fast1
Audio Help [fast, fahst] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, adverb, -er, -est, noun
Audio Help [fast, fahst] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, adverb, -er, -est, noun –adjective
–adverb
–noun
—Idioms
| 1. | moving or able to move, operate, function, or take effect quickly; quick; swift; rapid: a fast horse; a fast pain reliever; a fast thinker. |
| 2. | done in comparatively little time; taking a comparatively short time: a fast race; fast work. |
| 3. | (of time)
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| 4. | adapted to, allowing, productive of, or imparting rapid movement: a hull with fast lines; one of the fastest pitchers in baseball. |
| 5. | characterized by unrestrained conduct or lack of moral conventions, esp. in sexual relations; wanton; loose: Some young people in that era were considered fast, if not downright promiscuous. |
| 6. | characterized by hectic activity: leading a fast life. |
| 7. | resistant: acid-fast. |
| 8. | firmly fixed in place; not easily moved; securely attached. |
| 9. | held or caught firmly, so as to be unable to escape or be extricated: an animal fast in a trap. |
| 10. | firmly tied, as a knot. |
| 11. | closed and made secure, as a door, gate, or shutter. |
| 12. | such as to hold securely: to lay fast hold on a thing. |
| 13. | firm in adherence; loyal; devoted: fast friends. |
| 14. | permanent, lasting, or unchangeable: a fast color; a hard and fast rule. |
| 15. | Informal.
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| 16. | Photography.
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| 17. | Horse Racing.
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| 18. | quickly, swiftly, or rapidly. |
| 19. | in quick succession: Events followed fast upon one another to the crisis. |
| 20. | tightly; firmly: to hold fast. |
| 21. | soundly: fast asleep. |
| 22. | in a wild or dissipated way. |
| 23. | ahead of the correct or announced time. |
| 24. | Archaic. close; near: fast by. |
| 25. | a fastening for a door, window, or the like. |
| 26. | play fast and loose. play (def. 80). |
| 27. | pull a fast one, Informal. to play an unfair trick; practice deceit: He tried to pull a fast one on us by switching the cards. |
—Synonyms 1, 2. fleet, speedy. See quick. 5. dissipated, dissolute, profligate, immoral; wild, prodigal. 8. secure, tight, immovable, firm. 9. inextricable. 13. faithful, steadfast. 14. enduring. 20. securely, fixedly, tenaciously. 22. recklessly, wildly, prodigally.
—Antonyms 1, 2. slow. 5, 6. restrained. 8. loose.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
fast
To learn more about fast visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
fast2
Audio Help [fast, fahst] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [fast, fahst] Pronunciation Key –verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
–noun
| 1. | to abstain from all food. |
| 2. | to eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, esp. as a religious observance. |
| 3. | to cause to abstain entirely from or limit food; put on a fast: to fast a patient for a day before surgery. |
| 4. | an abstinence from food, or a limiting of one's food, esp. when voluntary and as a religious observance; fasting. |
| 5. | a day or period of fasting. |
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME fasten, OE fæstan; c. G fasten, Goth fastan, ON fasta
]
] | Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
| fast 1
Audio Help (fāst) Pronunciation Key
adj. fast·er, fast·est
adv. faster, fastest
[Middle English, from Old English fæst, firm, fixed; see past- in Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: These adjectives refer to something marked by great speed. Fast and rapid are often used interchangeably, though fast is more often applied to the person or thing in motion, and rapid, to the activity or movement involved: a fast runner; rapid strides. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
| fast 2
Audio Help (fāst) Pronunciation Key
intr.v. fast·ed, fast·ing, fasts
n.
[Middle English fasten, from Old English fæstan; see past- in Indo-European roots.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
fast (adj.)
O.E. fæst "firmly fixed, steadfast," probably from P.Gmc. *fastuz (cf. O.N. fastr, Du. vast, Ger. fest), from PIE base *past- "firm" (cf. Skt. pastyam "dwelling place"). The adv. meaning "quickly, swiftly" was perhaps in O.E., or from O.N. fast, either way developing from the sense of "firmly, strongly, vigorously" (cf. to run hard means to run fast; also compare fast asleep), or perhaps from the notion of a runner who "sticks" close to whatever he is chasing. The sense of "living an unrestrained life" (usually of women) is from 1746; fast food is first attested 1951. Fast-forward first recorded 1948. Fast and loose is described as "a cheating game played with a stick and a belt or string, so arranged that a spectator would think he could make the latter fast by placing a stick through its intricate folds, whereas the operator could detach it at once." [James O. Halliwell, "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words," 1847]. The fig. sense (1557) is recorded earlier than the literal (1578).
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
fast (v.)
O.E. fæstan "to fast" (as a religious duty), from P.Gmc. *fastejan (cf. O.Fris. festia, O.H.G. fasten, O.N. fasta), from the same root as fast (adj.). The original meaning was "hold firmly," and the sense evolution is via "firm control of oneself," to "holding to observance" (cf. Goth. fastan "to keep, observe," also "to fast"). Presumably the whole group is a Gmc. translation of M.L. observare "to fast."
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| fast | |
adjective | |
| 1. | acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; "fast film"; "on the fast track in school"; "set a fast pace"; "a fast car" [ant: slow] |
| 2. | (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time; "my watch is fast" [ant: slow] |
| 3. | at a rapid tempo; "the band played a fast fox trot" [ant: slow] |
| 4. | (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds; "a fast road"; "grass courts are faster than clay" |
| 5. | resistant to destruction or fading; "fast colors" |
| 6. | unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women" [syn: debauched] |
| 7. | hurried and brief; "paid a flying visit"; "took a flying glance at the book"; "a quick inspection"; "a fast visit" [syn: flying] |
| 8. | securely fixed in place; "the post was still firm after being hit by the car" |
| 9. | unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause; "a firm ally"; "loyal supporters"; "the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe"- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; "fast friends" [syn: firm] |
| 10. | (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time; "a fast lens" |
adverb | |
| 1. | quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form); "how fast can he get here?"; "ran as fast as he could"; "needs medical help fast"; "fast-running rivers"; "fast-breaking news"; "fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters" |
| 2. | firmly or closely; "held fast to the rope"; "her foot was stuck fast"; "held tight" |
noun | |
| 1. | abstaining from food |
verb | |
| 1. | abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; "Catholics sometimes fast during Lent" |
| 2. | abstain from eating; "Before the medical exam, you must fast" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
fast
In addition to the idioms beginning with fast, also see get nowhere (fast); hard and fast; pull a fast one; stand one's ground (fast); thick and fast.
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. |
fast1 [faːst] adjective
quick-moving
Example: a fast car
fast2 [faːst] adjectiveExample: a fast car
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quick
Example: a fast worker
fast3 [faːst] adjectiveExample: a fast worker
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(of a clock, watch etc) showing a time in advance of the correct time
Example: My watch is five minutes fast.
fast [faːst] adverbExample: My watch is five minutes fast.
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quickly
Example: She speaks so fast I can't understand her.
fast [faːst] verbExample: She speaks so fast I can't understand her.
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to go without food, especially for religious or medical reasons
Example: Muslims fast during the festival of Ramadan.
fast [faːst] nounExample: Muslims fast during the festival of Ramadan.
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a time or act of fasting
Example: She has just finished two days' fast.
fast1 [faːst] adjectiveExample: She has just finished two days' fast.
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(of a dye) fixed; that will not come out of a fabric when it is washed
fast2 [faːst] adjective
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firm; fixed
Example: She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
See also: fast food(s), fast asleepExample: She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
FAST
1.
2.
(1996-05-19)
| The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe |
Fast
A*vast"\, interj. [Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See Hold, v. t., and Fast, a.] (Naut.) Cease; stop; stay. "Avast heaving." --Totten.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fasting.] [AS. f[ae]stan; akin to D. vasten, OHG. fast[=e]n, G. fasten, Icel. & Sw. fasta, Dan. faste, Goth. fastan to keep, observe, fast, and prob. to E. fast firm.]1. To abstain from food; to omit to take nourishment in whole or in part; to go hungry. Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked. --Milton. 2. To practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain from food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence. Thou didst fast and weep for the child. --2 Sam. xii. 21. Fasting day, a fast day; a day of fasting.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, n. [OE. faste, fast; cf. AS. f[ae]sten, OHG. fasta, G. faste. See Fast, v. i.]1. Abstinence from food; omission to take nourishment. Surfeit is the father of much fast. --Shak. 2. Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation. 3. A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast. Fast day, a day appointed for fasting, humiliation, and religious offices as a means of invoking the favor of God. To break one's fast, to put an end to a period of abstinence by taking food; especially, to take one's morning meal; to breakfast. --Shak.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, n. [OE. faste, fast; cf. AS. f[ae]sten, OHG. fasta, G. faste. See Fast, v. i.]1. Abstinence from food; omission to take nourishment. Surfeit is the father of much fast. --Shak. 2. Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation. 3. A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast. Fast day, a day appointed for fasting, humiliation, and religious offices as a means of invoking the favor of God. To break one's fast, to put an end to a period of abstinence by taking food; especially, to take one's morning meal; to breakfast. --Shak.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, a. [Compar. Faster; superl. Fastest.] [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. f?st; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.]1. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door. There is an order that keeps things fast. --Burke. 2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong. Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. --Spenser. 3. Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend. 4. Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors. 5. Tenacious; retentive. [Obs.] Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. --Bacon. 6. Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound. All this while in a most fast sleep. --Shak. 7. Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse. 8. Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. --Thackeray. Fast and loose, now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant, esp. in the phrases to play at fast and loose, to play fast and loose, to act with giddy or reckless inconstancy or in a tricky manner; to say one thing and do another. "Play fast and loose with faith." --Shak. Fast and loose pulleys (Mach.), two pulleys placed side by side on a revolving shaft, which is driven from another shaft by a band, and arranged to disengage and re["e]ngage the machinery driven thereby. When the machinery is to be stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley fixed to the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and vice versa. Hard and fast (Naut.), so completely aground as to be immovable. To make fast (Naut.), to make secure; to fasten firmly, as a vessel, a rope, or a door.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, a. [Compar. Faster; superl. Fastest.] [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. f?st; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.]1. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door. There is an order that keeps things fast. --Burke. 2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong. Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. --Spenser. 3. Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend. 4. Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors. 5. Tenacious; retentive. [Obs.] Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. --Bacon. 6. Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound. All this while in a most fast sleep. --Shak. 7. Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse. 8. Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. --Thackeray. Fast and loose, now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant, esp. in the phrases to play at fast and loose, to play fast and loose, to act with giddy or reckless inconstancy or in a tricky manner; to say one thing and do another. "Play fast and loose with faith." --Shak. Fast and loose pulleys (Mach.), two pulleys placed side by side on a revolving shaft, which is driven from another shaft by a band, and arranged to disengage and re["e]ngage the machinery driven thereby. When the machinery is to be stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley fixed to the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and vice versa. Hard and fast (Naut.), so completely aground as to be immovable. To make fast (Naut.), to make secure; to fasten firmly, as a vessel, a rope, or a door.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Fast
Fast\, a. [Compar. Faster; superl. Fastest.] [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. f?st; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.]1. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door. There is an order that keeps things fast. --Burke. 2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong. Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. --Spenser. 3. Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend. 4. Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors. 5. Tenacious; retentive. [Obs.] Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. --Bacon. 6. Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound. All this while in a most fast sleep. --Shak. 7. Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse. 8. Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. --Thackeray. Fast and loose, now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant, esp. in the phrases to play at fast and loose, to play fast and loose, to act with giddy or reckless inconstancy or in a tricky manner; to say one thing and do another. "Play fast and loose with faith." --Shak. Fast and loose pulleys (Mach.), two pulleys placed side by side on a revolving shaft, which is driven from another shaft by a band, and arranged to disengage and re["e]ngage the machinery driven thereby. When the machinery is to be stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley fixed to the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and vice versa. Hard and fast (Naut.), so completely aground as to be immovable. To make fast (Naut.), to make secure; to fasten firmly, as a vessel, a rope, or a door.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
FAST
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| The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
FAST
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