kwɪk adj., adv., & n. --adj. 1
taking only a
short time (a quick worker). 2 arriving
after a short time,
prompt (quick
action; quick results). 3
with only a short
interval (in quick succession). 4
lively,
intelligent. 5
acute,
alert (has a quick ear). 6 (of a temper)
easily roused. 7
archaic living,
alive (the quick
and the dead). --adv. 1 quickly, at a
rapid rate. 2 (as int.)
come, go,
etc., quickly. --n. 1 the
soft flesh below the nails, or the
skin, or a
sore. 2 the
seat of
feeling or
emotion (cut to the quick). øbe quick
act quickly. quick-fire 1 (of
repartee etc.) rapid. 2
firing shots in quick
succession. quick-freeze 1
freeze (food) rapidly so as to
preserve its natural qualities. 2
this process. quick
march Mil. 1 a march in quick time. 2 the
command to
begin this. quick
one colloq. a
drink taken quickly. quick
step Mil. a step used in quick time (cf. QUICKSTEP). quick time Mil. marching at
about 120 paces
per minute. quick
trick Bridge 1 a trick in the
first two rounds of a
suit. 2 the card
that should win this. quick with
child archaic at a
stage of
pregnancy when movements of the
foetus have been felt. øøquickly adv. quickness n. [OE cwic(u) alive f. Gmc]