Nearby Words

speeds

[speed] Origin

speed

[speed] noun, verb, sped or speed·ed, speed·ing.
noun
1.
rapidity in moving, going, traveling, proceeding, or performing; swiftness; celerity: the speed of light; the speed of sound.
2.
relative rapidity in moving, going, etc.; rate of motion or progress: full speed ahead.
3.
full, maximum, or optimum rate of motion: The car gets to speed in just nine seconds.
4.
Automotive. a transmission gear ratio.
5.
Photography.
a.
Also called film speed. the sensitivity of a film or paper to light, measured by an ASA or DIN index, which assigns low numbers to slow film and higher numbers to faster film.
b.
Also called shutter speed. the length of time a shutter is opened to expose film.
c.
the largest opening at which a lens can be used.
EXPAND
6.
Slang. a stimulating drug, as caffeine, ephedrine, or especially methamphetamine or amphetamine.
7.
Informal. a person or thing that is compatible with or typical of one's ability, personality, desires, etc.: My speed is writing postcards on the porch while everyone else is tearing around the tennis court.
8.
Archaic. success or prosperity.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
9.
to promote the success of (an affair, undertaking, etc.); further, forward, or expedite.
10.
to direct (the steps, course, way, etc.) with speed.
11.
to increase the rate of speed of (usually followed by up): to speed up industrial production.
12.
to bring to a particular speed, as a machine.
13.
to cause to move, go, or proceed with speed.
EXPAND
14.
to expedite the going of: to speed the parting guest.
15.
Archaic. to cause to succeed or prosper.
COLLAPSE

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Speeds is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
verb (used without object)
16.
to move, go, pass, or proceed with speed or rapidity.
17.
to drive a vehicle at a rate that exceeds the legally established maximum: He was arrested for speeding.
18.
to increase the rate of speed or progress (usually followed by up).
19.
to get on or fare in a specified or particular manner.
20.
Archaic. to succeed or prosper.
21.
at full/top speed,
a.
at the greatest speed possible: We drove down the highway at full speed.
b.
to the maximum of one's capabilities; with great rapidity: He worked at full speed.
22.
up to speed,
a.
operating at full or optimum speed.
b.
functioning or producing at an expected, acceptable, or competitive level; up to par: a new firm not yet up to speed.

Origin:
before 900; 1965–70 for def. 6; (noun) Middle English spede good luck, prosperity, rapidity, Old English spēd; cognate with Dutch spoed, Old High German spōt; akin to Old English spōwan to prosper, succeed; (v.) Middle English speden to succeed, prosper, go with speed, Old English spēdan to succeed, prosper; cognate with Old Saxon spōdian, Old High German spuoten

speed·ful, adjective
speed·ful·ly, adverb
speed·ful·ness, noun
speed·ing·ly, adverb
speed·ing·ness, noun
EXPAND
speed·less, adjective
mul·ti·speed, adjective
out·speed, verb (used with object), -sped or -speed·ed, -speed·ing.
o·ver·speed, verb, -sped or -speed·ed, -speed·ing.
COLLAPSE


1, 2. fleetness, alacrity, dispatch, expedition; hurry. Speed, velocity, quickness, rapidity, celerity, haste refer to swift or energetic movement or operation. Speed (originally prosperity or success) may apply to human or nonhuman activity and emphasizes the rate in time at which something travels or operates: the speed of light, of a lens, of an automobile, of thought. Velocity, a more learned or technical term, is sometimes interchangeable with speed: the velocity of light; it is commonly used to refer to high rates of speed, linear or circular: velocity of a projectile. Quickness, a native word, and rapidity, a synonym of Latin origin, suggest speed of movement or operation on a small or subordinate scale; quickness applies more to people (quickness of mind, of perception, of bodily movement), rapidity more to things, often in a technical or mechanical context: the rapidity of moving parts; a lens of great rapidity. Celerity, a somewhat literary synonym of Latin origin, refers usually to human movement or operation and emphasizes expedition, dispatch, or economy in an activity: the celerity of his response. Haste refers to the energetic activity of human beings under stress; it often suggests lack of opportunity for care or thought: to marry in haste; a report prepared in haste. 9. advance, favor. 11. accelerate. 16. See rush1.


1. slowness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

speed
O.E. spedan "to succeed, prosper, advance" (see speed (n.)). Meaning "to go fast" is attested from c.1300. Meaning "To send forth with quickness" is first recorded 1569; that of "to increase the work rate of" (usually with up) is from 1856.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
speed   (spēd)  Pronunciation Key 
The ratio of the distance traveled by an object (regardless of its direction) to the time required to travel that distance. Compare velocity.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

speed definition


  1. n.
    methamphetamine; amphetamine in general. (Drugs.) : Kids think that speed won't get them into trouble.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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