noun
A leap up or across
skip, hop, leap, hopping, rise, upsurge, rising, pounce, lunge, leaping, jumping, skipping, running jump, broad jump, high jump, vault, bounce, hurdle, spring, bound, saltation, buckjump, leapfrogging, caper, dance, gambol.
A leap down
precipitation, plunge, dive, diving, nosedive, plummet, headlong fall, descent, drop, fall, parachute jump, bungee jump, sky diving; see also dive 1, drop 2.
An obstacle
hurdle, bar, fence; see barrier.
Distance jumped
leap, stretch, vault; see height 1, length 1.
A sudden nervous movement
start, jerk, twitch, jolt; see jerk 1.
A sudden rise
ascent, spurt, inflation, hike*; see increase 1, rise 2.
get (<strong><em>or</em> </strong>have) the jump on*
get an advantage over, get a head start, have the upper hand, beat; see exceed, surpass.