quick Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any area of the body that is highly sensitive to pain (as the flesh underneath the skin or a fingernail or toenail)
  2. adjective satellite accomplished rapidly and without delay
    speedy.
    • was quick to make friends
    • his quick reaction prevented an accident
    • hoped for a speedy resolution of the problem
    • a speedy recovery
    • he has a right to a speedy trial
  3. adjective satellite hurried and brief
    flying; fast.
    • paid a flying visit
    • took a flying glance at the book
    • a quick inspection
    • a fast visit
  4. adjective satellite moving quickly and lightly
    agile; spry; nimble.
    • sleek and agile as a gymnast
    • as nimble as a deer
    • nimble fingers
    • quick of foot
    • the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it
  5. adjective satellite apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity
    ready.
    • a quick mind
    • a ready wit
  6. adjective satellite performed with little or no delay
    straightaway; prompt; immediate.
    • an immediate reply to my letter
    • a prompt reply
    • was quick to respond
    • a straightaway denial
  7. adjective satellite easily aroused or excited
    warm.
    • a quick temper
    • a warm temper
  8. adverb with little or no delay
    quickly; promptly.
    • the rescue squad arrived promptly
    • come here, quick!

WordNet

Quick adjective
Etymology
As. cwic, cwicu, cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS. quik, D. kwik, OHG. quec, chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr living, Goth. qius, Lith. q&ymac;vas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living, vivere to live, Gr. bi`os life, Skr. jiva living, jiv to live. Cf. Biography, Vivid, Quitch grass, Whitlow.
Wordforms
comparative Quicker ; superlative Quickest
Definitions
  1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate.
    Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were. Chaucer.
    The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 2 Tim. iv. 1.
    Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire. Herbert.
    ✍ In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases.
  2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. " A quick wit." Shak.
  3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick
    Oft he her his charge of quick return Repeated. Milton.
  4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
    The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended. Latimer.
  5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
    The air is quick there, And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. Shak.
  6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. "To have an open ear, a quick eye." Shak.
    They say that women are so quick. Tennyson.
  7. Pregnant; with child. Shak. Syn. -- Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly.
Quick adverb
Definitions
  1. In a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run quick; get back quick.
    If we consider how very quick the actions of the mind are performed. Locke.
Quick noun
Definitions
  1. That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.
    The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick. Evelyn.
  2. The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which the nail is attached; the tender emotions; as, to cut a finger nail to the quick; to thrust a sword to the quick, to taunt one to the quick; -- used figuratively.
    This test nippeth, . . . this toucheth the quick. Latimer.
    How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to the quick of the difference ! Fuller.
  3. (Bot.) Quitch grass. Tennyson.
Quick transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
See Quicken.
Definitions
  1. To revive; to quicken; to be or become alive. Obs. Chaucer.

Webster 1913