FAST - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Adverb
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
Example: 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
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Adverb
firmly or closely
Example: held fast to the rope; her foot was stuck fast; held tight
Meaning 3
Part of speech: Adjective
at a rapid tempo
Example: the band played a fast fox trot
Meaning 4
Part of speech: Adjective
(of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
Example: a fast road; grass courts are faster than clay
Meaning 5
Part of speech: Adjective
resistant to destruction or fading
Example: fast colors
Meaning 6
Part of speech: Adjective
securely fixed in place
Example: the post was still firm after being hit by the car
Meaning 7
Part of speech: Adjective
(of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
Example: a fast lens
Synonyms
Dissolute, Debauched, Fasting, Dissipated, Quick
Antonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "fast" comes from Old Norse fasta. It started in Proto-Germanic *fastijaną. Then it appeared in Old English fæstan. Later, people used it in Middle English fasten. After that, it was Proto-Germanic *fastaz. Over time, it became Old English fæst. Finally, it reached Middle English fast. Many other languages have similar words:.
- Dutch: vasten
- German: fasten
- Old Norse: fasta
- Gothic: 𐍆𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌽
- Russian: пост
🔗 Related Words
hard – A related word in the same word family.
fasten – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Each language in this chain added phonetic changes that transformed the original sound.