Topic: EDUCATION
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | cwic 'alive' |
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quick1 S1 W2
comparative quicker, superlative quickest
comparative quicker, superlative quickest1 lasting for or taking only a short time : That was quick! I thought you'd be another hour. It's probably quicker by train. Have we got time for a quick drink? What's the quickest way to the station? We stopped to have a quick look at the church.
short time
That was quick! I thought you'd be another hour.It's probably quicker by train.Have we got time for a quick drink?What's the quickest way to the station?We stopped to have a quick look at the church.2 moving or doing something fast : She walked with short, quick steps. They were great people to work with - very quick, very efficient.
fast
She walked with short, quick steps.They were great people to work with - very quick, very efficient.3 happening very soon, without any delay [= speedy]:
no delay
4 able to learn and understand things fast : Jane's very witty and very quick. He's a good interviewer, tough and quick on the uptake (=able to understand quickly what someone is saying).
clever
SEJane's very witty and very quick.He's a good interviewer, tough and quick on the uptake (=able to understand quickly what someone is saying).5 used to tell someone to hurry : If you want to come with me you'll have to be quick - I'm leaving in ten minutes.
be quick
If you want to come with me you'll have to be quick - I'm leaving in ten minutes.6 to react quickly to what someone says or does : The government was quick to deny any involvement in the attacks.
be quick to do something
The government was quick to deny any involvement in the attacks.7 a solution to a problem that can be done quickly, but is not a good or permanent solution : There's no quick fix for stopping pollution. Congress is trying to avoid quick-fix solutions.
quick fix
informalThere's no quick fix for stopping pollution.Congress is trying to avoid quick-fix solutions.9
be quick on the draw
a) to be able to pull a gun out quickly in order to shoot
b) American English informal to be good at reacting quickly and intelligently to difficult questions or in difficult situations
—quickness noun [uncountable]
➔ quicklyWORD FOCUS: short WORD FOCUS: short speech/piece of writing: brief, concise, condensed, abridged
person: not very tall, little, tiny, petite
time/event: brief, quick, momentary, fleeting, ephemeral, transient, passing, short-lived
legs/fingers: stumpy, stubby
clothes: skimpy
➔ See also short
