FAST | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English fæst ‘firmly fixed, steadfast’ and fæste ‘firmly’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vast and German fest ‘firm, solid’ and fast ‘almost’. In Middle English the adverb developed the senses ‘strongly, vigorously’ (compare with run hard), and ‘close, immediate’ (just surviving in the archaic fast by; compare with hard by), hence ‘closely, immediately’ and ‘quickly’; the idea of rapid movement was then reflected in adjectival use

moving or capable of moving at high speed

moving at high speed

• a fast and powerful car

(of a clock or watch) showing a time ahead of the correct time

showing time ahead of correct time

• I keep my watch fifteen minutes fast

firmly fixed or attached

firmly fixed or attached

• he made a rope fast to each corner

(of a film) needing only a short exposure

needing only short exposure

• a 35-mm colour film which is ten times faster than Kodacolor II

(of a dye) not fading in light or when washed

(of dye) not fading

• the dyes are boiled with the yarn to produce a fast colour

engaging in or involving activities characterized by excitement, extravagance, and risk-taking

engaging in exciting or shocking activities

• the fast life she led in London

(of a person) prone to act in an unacceptably familiar way

unacceptably familiar

• Mammy said, ‘Stop asking questions, you too damn farse.’

at high speed

at high speed

• he was driving too fast

so as to be hard to move; securely

securely

• the ship was held fast by the anchor chain

so as to be hard to wake

so as to be hard to wake

• they were too fast asleep to reply