[fast] adj [ME, fr. OE faest; akin to OHG festi firm, ON fastr, Arm hast] (bef. 12c) 1 a: firmly fixed "roots ~ in the ground" b: tightly shut "the drawers were ~" c: adhering firmly d: not easily freed: stuck "a ball ~ in the mouth of the cannon" e: stable "movable items were made ~ to the deck"
2: firmly loyal "became ~ friends" 3 a: characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect: (1): moving or able to move rapidly: swift (2): taking a comparatively short time (3): imparting quickness of motion "a ~ bowler" (4): accomplished quickly (5): agile of mind; esp: quick to learn "a class for ~ students" b: conducive to rapidity of play or action c (1) of a timepiece or weighing device: indicating in advance of what is correct (2): according to or being daylight saving time d: contributing to a shortening of exposure time "~ film" e: acquired with unusually little effort and often by shady or dishonest methods "had a keen eye for a ~ buck --R. A. Keith"
4. a: securely attached "a rope ~ to the wharf" b: tenacious "a ~ hold on her purse"
5. a archaic: sound asleep b of sleep: not easily disturbed
6: not fading or changing color readily
7. a: wild "a pretty ~ crowd" b: sexually promiscuous 8: resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading) "~ dyes"--often used in combination "sunfast" "acid-fast bacteria" syn fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity. fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves "fast horses" and rapid to the movement itself "rapid current". swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement "returned the ball with one swift stroke". fleet adds the implication of lightness[ ]and nimbleness "fleet runners". quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time "a quick wit". speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment "speedy delivery of mail" and may also suggest unusual velocity. hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness "a hasty inspection". expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment "the expeditious handling of an order".
[2]fast adv (bef. 12c) 1: in a firm or fixed manner "stuck ~"
2: in a sound manner: deeply "~ asleep" 3 a: in a rapid manner: quickly b: in quick succession "kaleidoscopic impressions that come so thick and ~ --M. B. Tucker"
4: in a reckless or dissipated manner
5: ahead of a correct time or schedule
6. archaic: close, near [3]fast vi [ME, fr. OE faestan] (bef. 12c) 1: to abstain from food
2: to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods [4]fast n (bef. 12c) 1: the practice of fasting
2: a time of fasting [5]fast n [alter. of ME fest, fr. ON festr rope, mooring cable, fr. fastr firm] (15c): something that fastens (as a mooring line) or holds a fastening