INDEX:
1. how fast something moves or is done
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ FAST
↑ SLOW
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1. how fast something moves or is done
▷ speed /spiːd/ [countable/uncountable noun]
▪ The train’s designers claim it is capable of attaining speeds in excess of 350 kph.
▪ sensors which monitor speed and body movement
speed of
▪ What was the speed of the car at the time of the accident?
▪ the internal processing speed of a computer
at a speed of 50 mph/10 metres per second etc
▪ The Earth moves round the Sun at a speed of 30 km per second.
at a constant/steady speed
keeping the same speed all the time
▪ Keep driving at a constant speed until I tell you differently.
top speed
the fastest speed that a car, plane etc can reach
▪ The Ferrari Testarossa has a top speed of 188 mph.
▷ rate /reɪt/ [countable noun]
how fast things happen, change, or develop :
at a faster/slower/different etc rate
▪ Individual children develop physically and emotionally at different rates.
at an alarming rate
very fast
▪ Our money was running out at an alarming rate.
rate of
▪ The amount of light available will determine the plant’s rate of growth.
▪ equipment that can load ships at a rate of 5000 tonnes a day
▷ pace /peɪs/ [countable noun usually singular]
how fast someone walks or runs, or how fast they work or do things :
at a brisk/steady/gentle etc pace
▪ The soldiers were marching at a steady pace.
at a leisurely pace
at a slow comfortable speed
▪ We climbed at a leisurely pace, stopping occasionally to enjoy the view.
pace of
▪ The pace of political change has been rapid.
pace of work/life
▪ I’m enjoying the relaxed pace of life of Jamaica.
at your own pace
at a speed that is right for you
▪ The Kumon method involves students learning at their own pace.
▷ velocity /vɪˈlɒsəti, vəˈlɒsətiǁvə̇ˈlɑː-/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the speed at which something moves in a particular direction - use this especially in technical contexts :
▪ This instrument is used for measuring wind velocity.
velocity of
▪ an experiment to try to predict the velocity of a moving object
high velocity
▪ a beam of high velocity electrons
▷ momentum /məʊˈmentəm, mə-/ [uncountable noun]
the force that makes a moving object keep moving :
▪ We are trying to measure the position and momentum of an electron as accurately as possible.
gain/gather momentum
move faster
▪ As the slope got steeper, the sled gathered momentum.
lose momentum
move slower
▪ The ball was moving along, slowly losing momentum on the bumpy ground.
▷ miles per hour/metres per second etc /ˌmaɪlz pər ˈaʊəʳ/ [noun phrase]
use these expressions to say how fast something moves :
▪ The maximum speed on British motorways is 70 miles per hour.
▪ Sound travels through the air at about 340 metres per second.
▪ a propeller that revolves at a rate of 150 revolutions per minute