fast
12 ENTRIES FOUND:
faster;
fastest
faster;
fastest
Britannica Dictionary definition of FAST
1
[more fast; most fast]
a
:
moving or able to move quickly
-
She's a very fast runner.
-
a fast car
-
a fast pitch
-
maintaining a fast [=quick] pace
-
blazingly/blindingly fast
b
:
happening quickly
:
taking a short amount of time
-
a fast race
-
We're off to a fast start.
-
We're now experiencing a faster rate of inflation.
-
I'd like to take a fast [=(more commonly) quick] look at my records.
c
:
operating quickly
d
:
doing something or able to do something quickly
e
:
allowing movement at a great speed
—
see also fast lane, fast track
-
a fast road
-
We took the faster route.
2
of a clock or watch
:
showing a time that is later than the correct time
-
My watch is (ten minutes) fast.
3
photography
:
allowing photographs to be taken very quickly or when there is very little light
4
informal
a
:
tricky and unfair
-
Be careful that he doesn't pull a fast one on you. [=that he doesn't trick or deceive you]
b
:
earned or gotten quickly and often in a dishonest way
-
She's always looking to make a fast buck.
-
fast money
c
:
quick and not safe to trust
—
see also fast-talk
-
He gave us a lot of fast talk about how he was going to solve all our problems.
5
old-fashioned + humorous
b
of women
:
very willing to have sex
-
a typical Western filled with outlaws, gamblers, and fast women
6
a
:
placed, tied, or attached in a way that is not easily moved
-
Make the rope fast [=tie the rope securely] to the anchor.
b
:
closed tightly
-
Make sure the door is fast. [=(more commonly) shut fast]
c
:
impossible to change
— used in the phrase hard and fast
-
There are no hard and fast rules to be followed when you plan a vacation. [=there are many ways to plan a vacation]
d
:
not likely to fade
7
:
very loyal or faithful
-
They became fast friends.
fast and furious
:
in a very fast and forceful way
:
with one thing following another very quickly
◊ The phrase fast and furious is used both as an adjective and as an adverb.
-
The action was fast and furious.
-
The questions were coming at me fast and furious.
-
The jokes were flying fast and furious.
play fast and loose
2
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
adverb
faster;
fastest
2
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
adverb
faster;
fastest
Britannica Dictionary definition of FAST
1
:
with great speed
:
in a very short time
:
very quickly
—
opposite slow, slowly
-
The boss expects this to be done this afternoon, so you'd better work fast.
-
You're driving too fast!
-
He ran as fast as he could.
-
a fast-paced story
-
This is fast becoming a national problem.
-
You need to act fast to take advantage of this offer.
-
species that are fast disappearing = species that are disappearing fast
-
I don't know what caused the accident. It all happened so fast.
2
a
:
in a quick and intelligent way
-
She's a woman who can think fast in a crisis.
-
You catch on fast.
b
:
quickly and in a way that is meant to deceive or persuade someone
—
see also fast-talk
-
He's going to have to talk fast to get himself out of this mess.
3
:
in a way that is not easily moved or changed
-
The window was stuck fast.
-
She held fast to her belief in justice.
-
We must stand fast and not surrender!
fast and furious
fast asleep
going/getting nowhere fast
informal
◊ To be going/getting nowhere fast is to be failing to make progress or to produce a desired result.
-
The plan for a new stadium is going nowhere fast.
not so fast
informal
— used in speech to say that you disagree with what someone has said or to tell someone to stop or slow down
-
“This proves they're wrong.” “Not so fast. There's other evidence to consider.”
-
“The discussion is closed.” “Not so fast. I have a few more things to say.”
3
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
verb
fasts;
fasted;
fasting
3
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
verb
fasts;
fasted;
fasting
Britannica Dictionary definition of FAST
[no object]
:
to eat no food for a period of time
-
She always fasts on Yom Kippur.
-
Patients must fast for six hours before having the procedure.
— fasting
noun [noncount]-
periods of fasting
-
a time of fasting and prayer
4
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
noun
plural
fasts
4
fast
/ˈfæst/
Brit
/ˈfɑːst/
noun
plural
fasts
Britannica Dictionary definition of FAST
[count]
:
a period of time when you do not eat any food
:
a time of fasting
-
He went on a fast [=he ate nothing] for several days.
-
We broke our fast just after sunset.
-
observing a fast day [=a day on which people do not eat any food because of their religion]
