(~s, ~ing, sped, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: The form of the past tense and past participle is 'sped' in meaning 5 but '~ed' for the phrasal verb.
1.
The ~ of something is the rate at which it moves or travels.
He drove off at high ~...
With this type of camera, the shutter ~ is fixed...
An electrical pulse in a wire travels close to the ~ of light...
Wind ~s reached force five.
N-VAR: with supp
2.
The ~ of something is the rate at which it happens or is done.
In the late 1850s the ~ of technological change quickened...
Each learner can proceed at his own ~.
= pace
N-COUNT: with supp
3.
Speed is very fast movement or travel.
Speed is the essential ingredient of all athletics...
He put on a burst of ~...
The car is quite noisy at ~.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
Speed is a very fast rate at which something happens or is done.
I was amazed at his ~ of working.
...the sheer ~ of the unification process.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n/-ing
5.
If you ~ somewhere, you move or travel there quickly, usually in a vehicle.
Trains will ~ through the Channel Tunnel at 186mph...
The engine noise rises only slightly as I ~ along.
= race
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv
6.
Someone who is ~ing is driving a vehicle faster than the legal ~ limit.
This man was not qualified to drive and was ~ing.
VERB: usu cont, V
~ing
He was fined for ~ing last year.
N-UNCOUNT
7.
Speed is an illegal drug such as amphetamine which some people take to increase their energy and excitement. (INFORMAL)
N-UNCOUNT
8.
see also -~
9.
to pick up ~: see pick
10.
If you are up to ~, you have all the most recent information that you need about something.
A day has been set aside to bring all councillors up to ~ on the proposal...
Those in charge deluded themselves they were up to ~.
PHRASE: oft PHR on n