Jagged describes something with a rough, sharp, uneven edge, full of points that stick out in different directions. If you run your finger along a jagged rock, you'll feel the bumps and sharp angles instead of a smooth surface. A broken glass bottle has jagged edges that can cut you. Mountains often have jagged peaks that look like teeth against the sky.

The word comes from the repeated sharp points, like the teeth of a saw. A jagged line on a graph jumps up and down instead of flowing smoothly. A jagged scar might zigzag across someone's knee from a bad fall. Lightning often appears jagged as it cuts through the sky in angular, crackling bolts.

You can also use jagged to describe sounds. A jagged rhythm in music starts and stops unevenly, without flowing smoothly. Someone's voice might sound jagged when they're upset and struggling to speak steadily.

The opposite of jagged is smooth or even. Think of the difference between a carefully cut piece of paper with straight edges and one that's been torn, leaving ragged edges behind.