Definition

Noun: A short, flexible electrical cable with connectors (typically alligator clips) at each end, used to make a temporary electrical connection, most commonly between two points in a circuit or to provide auxiliary power, such as jump-starting a vehicle's battery.

Usage

A "jumper lead" is a tool for establishing a temporary electrical pathway. It is primarily used in electrical work, electronics, and automotive repair. - In electronics, it is used to connect components on a breadboard or to bypass a section of a circuit for testing. - In automotive contexts, a pair of jumper leads (often called jumper cables) is used to connect a dead battery to a live one to start a vehicle.

Examples

• Noun:
  • To test the circuit, connect a jumper lead from point A to point B.
  • I always keep a set of jumper leads in my car trunk for emergencies.
  • The technician used a jumper lead to bypass the faulty switch.

Advanced Usage

• "To use a jumper lead": The standard phrase for employing the tool to make a connection.
  • You can use a jumper lead to provide a direct connection to the power rail.
• In technical manuals, it may be referred to simply for the action it performs.
  • Jumper lead the two terminals to complete the circuit.

Variants and Related Words

• Jumper cable (n): Often used interchangeably, though "jumper cables" typically refers specifically to the heavier-gauge cables used for jump-starting vehicles.
• Booster cable (n): A synonym for automotive jumper cables.
• Clip lead (n): A jumper lead with a clip (like an alligator clip) as a connector.
• Jumper wire (n): A more general term for a piece of wire used to make a temporary connection, common in electronics.

Synonyms

• Jump wire
• Patch cable (in specific contexts)
• Bridging wire

Related Phrases

• "Jump-start a car": The primary action performed using automotive jumper leads/cables.
  • We had to jump-start the car using my neighbor's jumper leads.
• "Bypass with a jumper": A common instruction in electronics.
  • If the sensor is faulty, you can bypass it with a jumper.

Noun

1. a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire
   • it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads