Words that start with J

A jack is a device for lifting heavy objects off the ground by pushing them up from underneath. Jacks are used to raise things a short distance only. They are commonly used to lift one corner of a car off the ground while you change a tyre.

Jack is also a variation of the name John.

A jackal is a small to medium sized close relative of the dog. They are found in Africa, Asia and some parts of Europe. Jackals normally live together in pairs, although they will sometimes form small packs to hunt. They hunt small to medium animals, and will eat dead animals they find. Like household dogs they will also eat fruit and other plants as well as meat.

A jacket is a piece of clothing you usually wear over other clothes. The little girl in the picture is wearing a blue patterned jacket with red cuffs.

A jade plant is a succulent with spongy green leaves, thick stems and pink or white flowers.

A jail is another word for a prison. People who have done something wrong are locked in jail as a punishment.

January is the first month of the year. It has 31 days. The next month of the year is February. In the northern hemisphere January is part of winter, and in the southern hemisphere it is part of summer.

A jar is a small container with a lid you can keep things in. Today most jars are made of glass or plastic with a metal or plastic screw-top lid. A long time ago jars used to be made from ceramic or glass, and had lids made out of cork, rubber, cloth tied with string, or glass held on with metal clips and a rubber seal.

Jasper is an opaque silicate that can be virtually any color. It is often used for making jewelry. Some colours are more valuable than others - the jasper in the picture is red jasper.

A javelin is a kind of spear that is usually used in competitive sport, where the person who throws the javelin the furthest wins.

A jay is a type of bird with patches of bright colors, often with a crest on its head. Many species of jay live in woodlands in parts of North America and Europe. They forage on the ground and in trees for nuts, seeds, insects, and sometimes small eggs. Jays are known for their loud calls, and for collecting food to store for later.