Swift
[swɪft]
Definition
(noun.) a small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.
(noun.) an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745).
(noun.) United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903).
Edited by Gillian--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.
(v. i.) Of short continuance; passing away quickly.
(adv.) Swiftly.
(n.) The current of a stream.
(n.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.
(n.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.
(n.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.
(n.) A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.
(n.) The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.
Checker: Steve
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Quick, fast, fleet, rapid, speedy, expeditious, flying.[2]. Ready, prompt, eager, zealous, forward.[3]. Sudden, instant.
Typed by Andy
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Rapid, speedy, headlong, quick, accelerated, nimble, expeditious, fleet, fast,ready, quick, eager, alert, prompt
ANT:Slow, tardy, lingering, lazy, loitering, unexpeditious, inactive, sluggish,unready
Editor: Solomon
Definition
adj. moving quickly: fleet rapid: speedy: ready.—n. a genus (Cypselus) and family (Cypselid) of picarian birds resembling the swallows in general appearance and habits but most closely allied by anatomical structure to the humming-birds—with long pointed wings a short tail and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt: a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the current of a stream.—n. Swif′ter any rope temporarily used to tighten or keep a thing in its place.—adjs. Swift′-foot′ed; Swift′-hand′ed; Swift′-heeled.—adv. Swift′ly with swiftness: rapidly.—n. Swift′ness quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed.—adj. Swift′-winged.
Editor: Trudy
Examples
- There was a little brusque, turgid contempt for her in his swift gesture, and she seemed to cringe a little. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- She is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her resolutions. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Plain and hill, stream and corn-field, were discernible below, while we unimpeded sped on swift and secure, as a wild swan in his spring-tide flight. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- The Veneerings find with swift remorse that they have omitted to invite Miss Bella Wilfer. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The lightning is made his swift messenger, and thought flashes in submarine depths around the world. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Gerty's compassionate instincts, responding to the swift call of habit, swept aside all her reluctances. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- The shame, desertion, wretchedness, and exposure of the great capital; the wet, the cold, the slow hours, and the swift clouds of the dismal night. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- The torpedo boat destroyer is a larger and swifter boat, whose special duty it is to overtake and destroy this dangerous little fighter. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Still larger and possibly swifter steamships are in process of construction, viz. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The swifter craft are seldom equipped with large buoyancy tanks, since the added bulk of them tends to reduce a vessel's speed. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- He never rode a match on the swiftest animal in his costly stud, with half the speed at which he had torn along the course that ended in the Fleet. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- There is one there, he said, my personal property, built to carry five men, that is the swiftest of the swift. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Notwithstanding the success of his machine, which on public exhibition beat five of the swiftest hand sewers, he met only discouragement and disappointment. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
Edited by Gail