fast
The definition of fast is someone or something that moves quickly, is not easily moved or is firmly shut.
(adjective)- An example of fast is the cheetah's running speed.
- An example of fast is a door that is stuck closed.
Fast is defined as swift or ahead of time.
(adverb)- An example of fast is someone driving 50 in a 30 mph zone.
- An example of fast is a printer getting a project completed a day early.
Fast means to eat little or no food.
(verb)An example of fast is not eating for twelve hours before having blood drawn.
A fast is defined as a period of time during which you go without food.
(noun)An example of fast is not eating during daylight hours for Ramadan.
See fast in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
- not easily moved, freed, or separated; firm, fixed, or stuck: the ship was fast on the rocks
- firmly fastened or shut: make the shutters fast
- loyal; devoted: fast friends
- that will not fade: fast colors
- rapid in movement or action; swift; quick; speedy
- permitting or facilitating swift movement: a fast highway
- taking or lasting a short time: a fast lunch
- showing or keeping to a time in advance of a standard or scheduled time: his watch is fast
- living in a reckless, wild, dissipated way: a fast crowd
- promiscuous sexually
- ☆ Informal glib and deceptive: a fast talker
- Slang acting, gotten, done, etc. quickly and often dishonestly: out for a fast buck
- Bacteriology resistant to dissolution or decolorization, as certain bacteria
- Photog. adapted to or allowing very short exposure time: a fast lens, fast film
- Now Dial. complete; sound: a fast sleep
Origin: ME < OE fæst, akin to Ger fest, firm, stable < IE base *pasto-, fixed, secure > Arm hast
adverb
- firmly; fixedly
- thoroughly; soundly: fast asleep
- rapidly; swiftly; quickly; speedily
- ahead of time
- in a reckless, dissipated way; wildly
- Old Poet., Obsolete close; near: fast by the river
Origin: ME faste < OE fæste < adj.
noun
intransitive verb
- to abstain from all or certain foods, as in observing a holy day
- to eat very little or nothing
Origin: ME fasten < OE fæstan, akin to Ger fasten, Goth fastan, lit., hold fast < base of fast
noun
- the act of fasting
- a day or period of fasting
See fast in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective fast·er, fast·est
- Acting, moving, or capable of acting or moving quickly; swift.
- a. Accomplished in relatively little time: a fast visit.b. Acquired quickly with little effort and sometimes unscrupulously: made a fast buck scalping tickets.
- Quick to understand or learn; mentally agile: a class for the faster students.
- Indicating a time somewhat ahead of the actual time: The clock is fast.
- Allowing rapid movement or action: a fast running track.
- Designed for or compatible with a short exposure time: fast film.
- a. Disposed to dissipation; wild: ran with a fast crowd.b. Flouting conventional moral standards; sexually promiscuous.
- Resistant, as to destruction or fading: fast colors.
- Firmly fixed or fastened: a fast grip.
- Fixed firmly in place; secure: shutters that are fast against the rain.
- Firm in loyalty: fast friends.
- Lasting; permanent: fast rules and regulations.
- Deep; sound: in a fast sleep.
- In a secure manner; tightly: hold fast.
- To a sound degree; deeply: fast asleep.
- In a rapid manner; quickly.
- In quick succession: New ideas followed fast.
- Ahead of the correct or expected time: a watch that runs fast.
- In a dissipated, immoderate way: living fast.
- Archaic Close by; near.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old English fǽst, firm, fixed; see past- in Indo-European roots
.intransitive verb fast·ed, fast·ing, fasts
- To abstain from food.
- To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.
- The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
- A period of such abstention or self-denial.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English fasten
Origin: , from Old English fǽstan; see past- in Indo-European roots
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