jefferson
jefferson — noun
1. Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the American politician who wrote most of the Decl
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the American politician who wrote most of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809.
The guide showed the tourists a letter that Jefferson wrote in 1805.
possessive: Jefferson + past-tense verb for historical actions
Sari read about Jefferson's presidency in her American history textbook.
Monticello, the Virginia home that Jefferson designed, impressed the visitors from Taiwan.
appositive: [place], the [description] that [person] designed
Many public schools across the country are named after Jefferson.
collocation: named after [person]
Christopher watched a documentary about how Jefferson spent his last years on his farm.
Usage Note
Often used with a possessive ('Jefferson's') to refer to things associated with him, such as his writings, policies, or home.
2. A river in southwestern Montana, about 320 km long, that flows northward and joi
A river in southwestern Montana, about 320 km long, that flows northward and joins the Madison and Gallatin Rivers to form the Missouri River.
The Jefferson River winds through a wide valley in southwestern Montana.
present-tense description of geographical feature
Kwame caught a trout while fishing along the Jefferson River last summer.
The Lewis and Clark expedition followed the Jefferson River on their journey west.
collocation: followed [river] — historical exploration context
Elena took photographs of the rocky cliffs near the banks of the Jefferson River.
Some sections of the Jefferson River are shallow enough to cross on foot.
Etymology
The surname Jefferson comes from the English given name Jeffrey, meaning 'son of Geoffrey.' The Jefferson River in Montana was named for President Thomas Jefferson during the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805.