/ swɪft; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective ( swift·er , swift·est )
1.
swift (to do sth) happening or done quickly and immediately; doing sth quickly :
swift action
a swift decision
The White House was swift to deny the rumours.
2.
moving very quickly; able to move very quickly :
a swift current
a swift runner
➡ note at fast
► swift·ly adverb :
She moved swiftly to the rescue.
► swift·ness noun [ U , sing. ]
■ noun
a small bird with long narrow wings, similar to a swallow
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English (as an adjective), from the Germanic base of Old English swīfan move in a course, sweep . The bird name dates from the mid 17th cent.