joint

n., adj., & v.
—n.
1 a a place at which two things are joined together. b a point at which, or a contrivance by which, two parts of an artificial structure are joined.
2 a structure in an animal body by which two bones are fitted together.
3 a any of the parts into which an animal carcass is divided for food. b any of the parts of which a body is made up.
4 sl. a place of meeting for drinking etc.
5 sl. a marijuana cigarette.
6 the part of a stem from which a leaf or branch grows.
7 a piece of flexible material forming the hinge of a book-cover.
8 Geol. a fissure in a mass of rock.
—adj.
1 held or done by, or belonging to, two or more persons etc. in conjunction (a joint mortgage; joint action).
2 sharing with another in some action, state, etc. (joint author; joint favourite).
—v.tr.
1 connect by joints.
2 divide (a body or member) at a joint or into joints.
3 fill up the joints of (masonry etc.) with mortar etc.; trim the surface of (a mortar joint).
4 prepare (a board etc.) for being joined to another by planing its edge.
Phrases and idioms:
joint account a bank account held by more than one person, each of whom has the right to deposit and withdraw funds. joint and several (of a bond etc.) signed by more than one person, of whom each is liable for the whole sum. joint stock capital held jointly; a common fund. joint-stock company one formed on the basis of a joint stock. out of joint
1 (of a bone) dislocated.
2 out of order.
Derivatives:
jointless adj. jointly adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF, past part. of joindre JOIN