[ve.loc.i.ty] n, pl -ties [MF velocite, fr. L velocitat-, velocitas, fr. veloc-, velox quick; prob. akin to L vegere to enliven--more at wake] (ca. 1550) 1 a: quickness of motion: speed "the ~ of sound" b: rapidity of movement "[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than ~ --Mark Twain" c: speed imparted to something "the power pitcher relies on ~ --Tony Scherman"
2: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time: the derivative of position with respect to time 3 a: rate of occurrence or action: rapidity "the ~ of historical change --R. J. Lifton" "the narrative leaps from one frantic episode to another with impressive ~ --James Atlas" b: rate of turnover "the ~ of money"