I. ˈrapə̇d adjective
( often rapider often rapidest )
Etymology: Latin rapidus seizing, tearing, hurrying, rapid, from rapere to seize, rob, kidnap, ravish; akin to Old English refsan, repsan to reprove, blame, Old Saxon respian to reprove, Old High German refsen to punish, Old Norse refsa to punish, Greek ereptesthai to feed on, Lithuanian ap rėpti to seize; basic meaning: to seize, grasp
1. : marked by a notably high rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence : requiring notably little time : not slow or retarded
a rapid stream
a rapid train
a rapid journey
rapid movement
racquets, most delightfully rapid of games — H.W.Nevinson
2. : marked by abrupt action or decision without delay or hesitation
a train of thought made rapid by the stimulus of cupidity — George Eliot
the rapid assurance of one who needs not to inquire about tastes and appetites — Arnold Bennett
3. : permissive of or conductive to action in less than normal or ordinary time
rapid growth
4. : fast 5d
Synonyms: see fast
II. noun
( plural rapids ; but singular or plural in construction )
: a part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness and where the surface is usually broken by obstructions but has no actual waterfall or cascade
a shallow rapid — P.B.Shelley
shoot the rapids in a canoe
III. adverb
: rapidly — usually used in combination
a rapid -firing gun
a rapid -flowing stream