fast Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun abstaining from food
    fasting.
  2. verb abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
    • Catholics sometimes fast during Lent
  3. verb abstain from eating
    • Before the medical exam, you must fast
  4. adjective acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly
    • fast film
    • on the fast track in school
    • set a fast pace
    • a fast car
  5. adjective (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time
    • my watch is fast
  6. adjective at a rapid tempo
    • the band played a fast fox trot
  7. adjective satellite (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
    • a fast road
    • grass courts are faster than clay
  8. adjective satellite resistant to destruction or fading
    • fast colors
  9. adjective satellite unrestrained by convention or morality
    debauched; libertine; dissolute; degenerate; degraded; dissipated; riotous; profligate.
    • Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
    • deplorably dissipated and degraded
    • riotous living
    • fast women
  10. adjective satellite hurried and brief
    quick; flying.
    • paid a flying visit
    • took a flying glance at the book
    • a quick inspection
    • a fast visit
  11. adjective satellite securely fixed in place
    firm; immobile.
    • the post was still firm after being hit by the car
  12. adjective satellite unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
    firm; loyal; truehearted.
    • a firm ally
    • loyal supporters
    • the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe"- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison
    • fast friends
  13. adjective satellite (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
    • a fast lens
  14. adverb quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
    • how fast can he get here?
    • ran as fast as he could
    • needs medical help fast
    • fast-running rivers
    • fast-breaking news
    • fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters
  15. adverb firmly or closely
    tight.
    • held fast to the rope
    • her foot was stuck fast
    • held tight

WordNet

Fast intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. f&ae;stan; akin to D. vasten, OHG. fasten, G. fasten, Icel. & Sw. fasta, Dan. faste, Goth. fastan to keep, observe, fast, and prob. to E. fast firm.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Fasted; present participle & verbal noun Fasting
Definitions
  1. To abstain from food; to omit to take nourishment in whole or in part; to go hungry.
    Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked. Milton.
  2. To practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain from food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence.
    Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Sam. xii. 21.
Fast noun
Etymology
OE. faste, fast; cf. AS. fsten, OHG. fasta, G. faste. See Fast, v. i.
Definitions
  1. Abstinence from food; omission to take nounrishment.
    Surfeit is the father of much fast. Shak.
  2. Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation.
  3. A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast. Shak.
Fast adjective
Etymology
OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. fst; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Isel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.
Wordforms
comparative Faster ; superlative Fastest
Definitions
  1. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door.
    There is an order that keeps things fast. Burke.
  2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.
    Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. Spenser.
  3. Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend.
  4. Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors.
  5. Tenacious; retentive. Obs.
    Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. Bacon.
  6. Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound.
    All this while in a most fast sleep. Shak.
  7. Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse.
  8. Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. Thackeray.
Fast adverb
Etymology
OE. Faste firmly, strongly, quickly, AS. faste. See Fast, a.
Definitions
  1. In a fast, fixed, or firmly established manner; fixedly; firmly; immovably.
    We will bind thee fast. Judg. xv. 13.
  2. In a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly; wildly; as, to run fast; to live fast.
    He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk Into the wood fast by. Milton.
    Fast by the throne obsequious Fame resides. Pope.
Fast noun
Definitions
  1. That which fastens or holds; especially, (Naut.) a mooring rope, hawser, or chain; -- called, according to its position, a bow, head, quarter, breast, or stern fast; also, a post on a pier around which hawsers are passed in mooring.
Fast noun
Etymology
OF. fust, F. ft, fr. L. fustis stick staff.
Definitions
  1. (Arch.) The shaft of a column, or trunk of pilaster. Gwilt.

Webster 1913