/ fɑːst; NAmE fæst/ adjective , adverb , verb , noun
■ adjective
( fast·er , fast·est )
QUICK
1.
moving or able to move quickly :
a fast car / horse
the world's fastest runner
2.
happening in a short time or without delay :
the fastest rate of increase for years
a fast response time
3.
able to do sth quickly :
a fast learner
SURFACE
4.
producing or allowing quick movement :
a fast road / pitch
—see also fast lane
WATCH / CLOCK
5.
[ not before noun ] showing a time later than the true time :
I'm early—my watch must be fast.
That clock's ten minutes fast.
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
6.
( technical ) very sensitive to light, and therefore useful when taking photographs in poor light or of sth that is moving very quickly
FIRMLY FIXED
7.
( of a boat, etc. ) firmly fixed and safe :
He made the boat fast .
COLOURS IN CLOTHES
8.
not likely to change or to come out when washed
HELP NOTE : There is no noun related to fast . Use speed in connection with vehicles, actions, etc.; quickness is used about thinking.
•
IDIOMS
- fast and furious
- a fast talker
- a fast worker
—more at buck noun , hard adjective , pull verb
■ adverb
( fast·er , fast·est )
QUICKLY
1.
quickly :
Don't drive so fast!
How fast were you going?
I can't go any faster.
The water was rising fast.
Her heart beat faster.
( formal )
Night was fast approaching.
a fast-flowing stream
➡ note at quick
2.
in a short time; without delay :
Children grow up so fast these days.
Britain is fast becoming a nation of fatties.
The police said that they had reacted as fast as they could.
FIRMLY
3.
firmly; completely :
Within a few minutes she was fast asleep (= sleeping deeply) .
The boat was stuck fast (= unable to move) in the mud.
HELP NOTE : There is no noun related to fast . Use speed in connection with vehicles, actions, etc.; quickness is used about thinking.
•
IDIOMS
- as fast as your legs can carry you
- hold fast to sth
- play fast and loose (with sb/sth)
- stand fast / firm
—more at thick adverb
■ verb
[ v ] to eat little or no food for a period of time, especially for religious or health reasons :
Muslims fast during Ramadan.
■ noun
a period during which you do not eat food, especially for religious or health reasons :
to go on a fast
to break (= end) your fast
••
SYNONYMS
fast / quick / rapid
These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
| fast ~ | quick ~ | rapid \~ |
| car | glance | change |
| train | look | growth |
| bowler | reply | increase |
| pace | decision | decline |
| lane | way | progress |
| | | |
Fast is used especially to describe a person or thing that moves or is able to move at great speed.
Quick is more often used to describe something that is done in a short time or without delay.
Rapid , swift and speedy are more formal words.
Rapid is most commonly used to describe the speed at which something changes. It is not used to describe the speed at which something moves or is done: a rapid train • We had a rapid coffee.
Swift usually describes something that happens or is done quickly and immediately:
a swift decision
•
The government took swift action.
Speedy has a similar meaning:
a speedy recovery
. It is used less often to talk about the speed at which something moves: a speedy car.
For the use of fast and quick as adverbs, see the usage note at quick .
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective and adverb Old English fæst firmly fixed, steadfast and fæste firmly , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vast and German fest firm, solid and fast almost. In Middle English the adverb developed the senses strongly, vigorously (compare with run hard ), and close, immediate (just surviving in the archaic fast by ; compare with hard by ), hence closely, immediately and quickly ; the idea of rapid movement was then reflected in adjectival use.
verb and noun Old English fæstan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vasten and German fasten , also to Old Norse fasta , the source of the noun.