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fast1 definition

fast (fast, fäst)

adjective

  1. not easily moved, freed, or separated; firm, fixed, or stuck the ship was fast on the rocks
  2. firmly fastened or shut make the shutters fast
  3. loyal; devoted fast friends
  4. that will not fade fast colors
  5. rapid in movement or action; swift; quick; speedy
  6. permitting or facilitating swift movement a fast highway
  7. taking or lasting a short time a fast lunch
  8. showing or keeping to a time in advance of a standard or scheduled time his watch is fast
    1. living in a reckless, wild, dissipated way a fast crowd
    2. promiscuous sexually
  9. Informal glib and deceptive a fast talker
  10. Slang acting, gotten, done, etc. quickly and often dishonestly out for a fast buck
  11. Bacteriology resistant to dissolution or decolorization, as certain bacteria
  12. Photog. adapted to or allowing very short exposure time a fast lens, fast film
  13. Now Dial. complete; sound a fast sleep

Etymology: ME < OE fæst, akin to Ger fest, firm, stable < IE base *pasto-, fixed, secure > Arm hast

adverb

  1. firmly; fixedly
  2. thoroughly; soundly fast asleep
  3. rapidly; swiftly; quickly; speedily
  4. ahead of time
  5. in a reckless, dissipated way; wildly
  6. Old Poet., Obsolete close; near fast by the river

Etymology: ME faste < OE fæste < adj.

noun

Naut. a rope for mooring a stern fast
fast Idioms

a fast one

Slang a deceptive act to pull a fast one on someone

play fast and loose

to behave with reckless duplicity or insincerity
fast2 definition

fast (fast, fäst)

intransitive verb

  1. to abstain from all or certain foods, as in observing a holy day
  2. to eat very little or nothing

Etymology: ME fasten < OE fæstan, akin to Ger fasten, Goth fastan, lit., hold fast < base of fast

noun

  1. the act of fasting
  2. a day or period of fasting
fast Idioms

break one's fast

to eat food for the first time after fasting, or for the first time in the day

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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