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rapid
7 dictionary results for: rapid
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
rap·id       [rap-id] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, noun
–adjective
1.occurring within a short time; happening speedily: rapid growth.
2.moving or acting with great speed; swift: a rapid worker.
3.characterized by speed: rapid motion.
–noun
4.Usually, rapids. a part of a river where the current runs very swiftly.

[Origin: 1625–35; < L rapidus tearing away, seizing, swift. See rape1, -id4]

rap·id·ly, adverb

2. See quick.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rap·id       (rāp'ĭd)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.   rap·id·er, rap·id·est
Moving, acting, or occurring with great speed. See Synonyms at fast1.

n.   An extremely fast-moving part of a river, caused by a steep descent in the riverbed. Often used in the plural.


[Latin rapidus, from rapere, to seize; see rep- in Indo-European roots.]

ra·pid'i·ty (rə-pĭd'ĭ-tē), rap'id·ness (rāp'ĭd-něs) n., rap'id·ly adv.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rapid 
1634, from L. rapidus "hasty, snatching," from rapere "hurry away, carry off, seize, plunder," from PIE base *rep- "to snatch" (cf. Gk. ereptomai "devour," harpazein "snatch away"). Rapids is 1765, from Fr. rapides, applied by Fr. voyagers to North American rivers. Rapid-transit first attested 1873; rapid eye movement is from 1916.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
rapid

adjective
1. done or occurring in a brief period of time; "a rapid rise through the ranks" 
2. characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed; "a rapid movement"; "a speedy car"; "a speedy errand boy" 

noun
1. a part of a river where the current is very fast 

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Rapid City, MI Zip code(s): 49676

Rapid River, MI Zip code(s): 49878

Rapid City, SD (city, FIPS 52980) Location: 44.07520 N, 103.23280 W
Population (1990): 54523 (22530 housing units)
Area: 91.5 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)

Rapid Valley, SD (CDP, FIPS 53007) Location: 44.07255 N, 103.12961 W
Population (1990): 5968 (2094 housing units)
Area: 27.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rapid

Rap"id\, a. [L. rapidus, fr. rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch or hurry away; perhaps akin to Gr. ?; cf. F. rapide. Cf. Harpy, Ravish.]

1. Very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion.

Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels. --Milton.

2. Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid recurrence; rapid succession.

3. Quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rapid

Rap"id\, n. [Cf. F. rapide. See Rapid, a.] The part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; -- usually in the plural; as, the Lachine rapids in the St. Lawrence.

Row, brothers, row the stream runs fast, The rapids are near, and the daylight's past. --Moore.

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