English Dictionary

FAST

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fast mean? 

FAST (noun)
  The noun FAST has 1 sense:

1. abstaining from foodplay

  Familiarity information: FAST used as a noun is very rare.


FAST (adjective)
  The adjective FAST has 10 senses:

1. acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quicklyplay

2. (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct timeplay

3. at a rapid tempoplay

4. (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speedsplay

5. resistant to destruction or fadingplay

6. unrestrained by convention or moralityplay

7. hurried and briefplay

8. securely fixed in placeplay

9. unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or causeplay

10. (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure timeplay

  Familiarity information: FAST used as an adjective is familiar.


FAST (verb)
  The verb FAST has 2 senses:

1. abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasonsplay

2. abstain from eatingplay

  Familiarity information: FAST used as a verb is rare.


FAST (adverb)
  The adverb FAST has 2 senses:

1. quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)play

2. firmly or closelyplay

  Familiarity information: FAST used as an adverb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


FAST (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Abstaining from food

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

fast; fasting

Hypernyms ("fast" is a kind of...):

abstinence (act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fast"):

diet; dieting (the act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods))

hunger strike (a voluntary fast undertaken as a means of protest)

Ramadan ((Islam) a fast (held from sunrise to sunset) that is carried out during the Islamic month of Ramadan)

Derivation:

fast (abstain from eating)

fast (abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons)


FAST (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: faster  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: fastest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly

Context example:

a fast car

Similar:

hurrying; scurrying (moving with great haste)

instant; instantaneous (occurring with no delay)

immediate; prompt; quick; straightaway (performed with little or no delay)

meteoric (like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience)

quick; speedy (accomplished rapidly and without delay)

rapid (done or occurring in a brief period of time)

rapid; speedy (characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed)

smart (quick and brisk)

winged (very fast; as if with wings)

windy (resembling the wind in speed, force, or variability)

fleet; swift (moving very fast)

fast-paced (of communication that proceeds rapidly)

fast-breaking (occurring rapidly as a series of events in rapid succession)

express (without unnecessary stops)

double-quick ((of a marching cadence) very quick)

blistering; hot; red-hot (very fast; capable of quick response and great speed)

alacritous (quick and eager)

accelerated (speeded up, as of an academic course)

high-speed; high-velocity (operating at high speed)

Also:

sudden (happening without warning or in a short space of time)

hurried (moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste)

Attribute:

fastness; speed; swiftness (a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens)

Antonym:

slow (not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time)

Derivation:

fastness (a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens)


Sense 2

Meaning:

(used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time

Context example:

my watch is fast

Antonym:

slow ((used of timepieces) indicating a time earlier than the correct time)


Sense 3

Meaning:

At a rapid tempo

Context example:

the band played a fast fox trot

Similar:

allegro ((of tempo) fast)

allegretto ((of tempo) faster than allegro)

andantino ((of tempo) moderately fast)

presto ((of tempo) very fast)

prestissimo ((of tempo) as fast as possible)

vivace ((of tempo) very fast and lively)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Antonym:

slow (at a slow tempo)

Derivation:

fastness (a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens)


Sense 4

Meaning:

(of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds

Context example:

grass courts are faster than clay

Similar:

smooth (having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities)


Sense 5

Meaning:

Resistant to destruction or fading

Context example:

fast colors

Similar:

imperviable; impervious (not admitting of passage or capable of being affected)


Sense 6

Meaning:

Unrestrained by convention or morality

Synonyms:

debauched; degenerate; degraded; dissipated; dissolute; fast; libertine; profligate; riotous

Context example:

fast women

Similar:

immoral (deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong)


Sense 7

Meaning:

Hurried and brief

Synonyms:

fast; flying; quick

Context example:

a fast visit

Similar:

hurried (moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste)

Derivation:

fastness (a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens)


Sense 8

Meaning:

Securely fixed in place

Synonyms:

fast; firm; immobile

Context example:

the post was still firm after being hit by the car

Similar:

fixed (securely placed or fastened or set)

Derivation:

fastness (the quality of being fixed in place as by some firm attachment)


Sense 9

Meaning:

Unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause

Synonyms:

fast; firm; loyal; truehearted

Context example:

fast friends

Similar:

faithful (steadfast in affection or allegiance)


Sense 10

Meaning:

(of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time

Context example:

a fast lens

Similar:

causative (producing an effect)


FAST (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they fast  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it fasts  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: fasted  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: fasted  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: fasting  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Context example:

Catholics sometimes fast during Lent

Hypernyms (to "fast" is one way to...):

abstain; desist; refrain (choose not to consume)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fast"):

diet (follow a regimen or a diet, as for health reasons)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fast; fasting (abstaining from food)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Abstain from eating

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Context example:

Before the medical exam, you must fast

Hypernyms (to "fast" is one way to...):

abstain; desist; refrain (choose not to consume)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fast"):

diet (eat sparingly, for health reasons or to lose weight)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fast; fasting (abstaining from food)


FAST (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

Context example:

fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters


Sense 2

Meaning:

Firmly or closely

Synonyms:

fast; tight

Context example:

held tight


 Context examples 


The neighborhood was growing up fast.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and stood by to hand the fore-sail; but making foul weather, we looked the guns were all fast, and handed the mizen.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

When I got him into his box, from which he had slipped, I was off as fast as I could run.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is probably speeding on its way thither at the present instant as fast as steam can take it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Things will happen fast in December, so it will be important to know your own mind.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

As soon as they heard her orders they ran away in every direction as fast as possible.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down into the fire.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then she raised her head proudly, and held out one hand to Van Helsing who took it in his, and, after stooping and kissing it reverently, held it fast.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The Martinez was sinking fast, for the water was very near.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“How fast you walk!” said he.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"When in Rome do as the Romans do." (English proverb)

"Pity without help does little good" (Breton proverb)

"Not everyone who chased the Zebra, caught it, but he who caught it, chased it." (Southern Africa proverb)

"Being able to feel it on wooden shoes." (Dutch proverb)



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