fast

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See also -fast, fást, and fäst

Contents

[edit] English

Most common English words: spent « soldiers « speech « #878: fast » middle » effort » race

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

Verb: Old English fæstan. Cognate with Dutch vasten, German fasten, Old Norse fasta, Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌽.

[edit] Noun

Singular
fast

Plural
fasts

fast (plural fasts)

  1. The act or practice of abstaining from food or of eating very little food.
  2. The period of time during which one abstains from or eats very little food.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to fast

Third person singular
fasts

Simple past
fasted

Past participle
fasted

Present participle
fasting

to fast (third-person singular simple present fasts, present participle fasting, simple past and past participle fasted)

  1. (intransitive) To abstain from or eat very little food; to abstain from food for religious reasons.
    • 2007, John Zerzan, Silence, p. 3,
      It is at the core of the Vision Quest, the solitary period of fasting and closeness to the earth to discover one's life path and purpose.
[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Old English fæst, from Germanic. Cognate with Dutch vast, German fest, Old Norse fastr. Ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *pasto- (solid) together with Armenian հաստ (hast), thick) and Sanskrit पस्त्य (pastyá). For temporal meanings compare similar use of hard.

[edit] Adjective

fast (comparative faster, superlative fastest)

  1. Occurring or happening within a short period of time.
    The party started promptly – all the guests arrived very fast after eight.
  2. Capable of moving with great speed.
    I am going to buy a fast car.
  3. Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    There must be something wrong with the hall clock. It is always fast.
  4. (of photographic film) More sensitive to light than average.
  5. (informal, derogatory) A person (usually a woman) who consents to sexual activity more rapidly than others.
    She's fast – she slept with him on their first date..
  6. Firmly or securely fixed in place.
    That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast!
  7. (of a dye) Not running or fading when subjected to detrimental conditions such as wetness or intense light.
    All the washing has come out pink. That red tee-shirt was not fast.
  8. (of friends etc) Inseparable.
  9. (of sleep) Deep or sound.
[edit] Usage notes

With respect to the definition "consents to sexual activity", the words fast and easy are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. And the terms are subjective, they are based on the typical customs for the society where they are used. Where someone offers less reluctance than is normally expected, they may be considered easy. Where someone is more readily interested, but not necessarily less reluctant, they may be considered fast. Or both, depending on the circumstances.

For example, if it is typical practice in a society for someone to show that they are of the type with whom it is acceptable to be having sex, by offering gifts, attention or other symbolic representations of value, and the person being wooed doesn't require them, but is essentially willing to do so if asked or wants to do so as soon as meeting the other person, that might be considered easy. However, where someone expects attention such as dating, if typical practice in a society is, if the other person is acceptable, to engage in sexual activity after three or four dates, someone who does so on the second date might be considered fast but might not be considered easy. Someone who does on the first date might be considered either, or perhaps both.

[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
  • (occurring or happening within a short time): slow
  • (ahead of the correct time or schedule): slow, behind
  • (firmly or securely fixed in place): loose
  • (of sleep: deep or sound): light
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Noun

Singular
fast

Plural
fasts

fast (plural fasts)

  1. (British, rail transport) A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Translations

[edit] Interjection

fast

  1. (archery) Stop shooting; do not release any arrows.
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

Old English fæste, from the same Germanic root as Etymology 2, above. Cognate with Dutch vast, German fast (almost).

[edit] Adverb

fast (comparative faster, superlative fastest)

  1. In a fast manner; within a short time.
    Do it as fast as you can.
  2. Moving quickly or with great speed.
    Horses can run very fast.
  3. In a firm or secure manner.
    Hold this rope as fast as you can.
  4. (of sleeping) Deeply or soundly.
    He is fast asleep.
  5. Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    I think my watch is running fast.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
  • (within a short time): slowly
  • (moving quickly or with great speed): slowly
  • (in a firm or secure manner): loosely
  • (of sleeping: deeply or soundly): lightly
  • (ahead of the correct time or schedule): behind
[edit] Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Anagrams


[edit] Danish

[edit] Adjective

fast

  1. firm
  2. solid
  3. tight
  4. fixed
  5. permanent
  6. regular

[edit] Derived terms


[edit] German

[edit] Etymology

Old High German fasto, compare fest. Cognate with English adverb fast.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Adverb

fast

  1. almost; nearly
    Fast 60 Spielfilme sind zu sehen. — “There are almost 60 feature films to see.”
  2. (in a negative clause) hardly

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Antonyms

  • (almost, nearly): ganz

[edit] Norwegian

[edit] Adjective

fast

  1. solid, steady,firm
    fast telefon - fixed phone

[edit] Swedish

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Adjective

Inflections of
fast
Absolute Comparative Superlative
Attributive Predicative
Indefinite
singular
Common fast fastare fastast
Neuter fast
Definite
singular
Masc. faste fastaste
All fasta fastaste
Plural fasta fastaste

fast

  1. caught (unable to move freely), captured
    Bankrånaren är nu fast = The bank robber has now been caught (by the police)
  2. Firm; fastened; unmoving
    Ge mig en fast punkt, och jag skall flytta världen = Give me one firm spot, and I'll move the world

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Conjunction

fast

  1. although, even though

[edit] Related terms