\begin{description}
\item[jim] j.i.m.

\item[jona] jona halt

\item[noch] wer mit def

\end{description}
\begin{description}
\item[key] definition

\item[key] definition

\end{description}
\begin{description}
\item[key] definition

\item[key] definition

\item[key] definition

\end{description}
\begin{description}
\item[key] definition

\end{description}
not a def list --- an emdash.

not a def list ---an emdash.

not a def list --- an emdash.

not a def list ---an emdash.