fast

/fɑ:st/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

You must fast for twelve hours before the blood test.

Definition

Adjective:
- Moving or capable of moving at high speed: Describes something that operates, travels, or functions quickly.
- Firmly fixed or attached: Describes something that is secure, tight, or not easily moved.
- Loyal and steadfast: Describes a person or relationship that is unwavering, close, and reliable.
- Resistant to change or fading: Describes colors or materials that do not run, fade, or deteriorate easily.
- Ahead of the correct time: Describes a clock or watch showing a time later than the actual time.
- Promoting rapid movement: Describes a surface or condition that allows for quick travel.
- Living in a wild and unrestrained way: Describes a lifestyle or person considered morally unrestrained or dissolute.
Adverb:
- At high speed; quickly: Describes the manner of an action performed with great rapidity.
- Firmly, securely, or tightly: Describes the state of being fixed in place.
- Deeply or soundly: Describes a state like sleep that is profound.
Verb:
- To abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink: To voluntarily refrain from eating, often for religious, health, or ritual reasons.
Noun:
- An act or period of fasting: The practice or instance of abstaining from food.

Usage Examples

Adjective:
- She drives a fast car. (It is capable of high speed.)
- Make sure the knot is fast. (Make sure the knot is secure and tight.)
- They have been fast friends for decades. (They have been very close and loyal friends.)
- This dye provides fast colors that won't fade. (The colors are permanent.)
- My watch is five minutes fast. (It shows a time five minutes ahead of the real time.)
- The new road is very fast. (It allows vehicles to travel quickly.)
Adverb:
- Please don't speak so fast. (Please don't speak so quickly.)
- The door was stuck fast and wouldn't open. (The door was firmly jammed shut.)
- The baby was fast asleep. (The baby was sleeping deeply.)
Verb:
- Many people fast during Ramadan. (They abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.)
- You must fast for 12 hours before the blood test. (You must not eat for 12 hours.)
Noun:
- He began a 24-hour fast. (He began a 24-hour period of not eating.)
- Breaking the fast with a healthy meal is important. (Ending the period of fasting.)

Advanced Usage

"To make fast": To secure something firmly.
- The sailors made the boat fast to the dock. (They secured the boat tightly to the dock.)
"Fast and loose": Behaving in a reckless, unreliable, or deceitful manner.
- He played fast and loose with the company's finances. (He handled the money irresponsibly and dishonestly.)
"Fast track": A route or method that allows for rapid progress or advancement.
- She was put on the fast track to management. (She was given opportunities for very quick promotion.)

Variants and Related Words

Fasten (verb): To close or attach securely.
- Fasten your seatbelt.
Fastness (noun): 1. A secure or fortified place. 2. The quality of being fixed or colorfast.
- The mountain fastness was hard to attack.
Fast-breaking (adj): Happening or changing very quickly (often used in news).
- We are following the fast-breaking developments.

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs

Fasten on/upon: To single out and focus on something.
- The reporter fastened on the mayor's earlier statement. (The reporter focused attention on it.)

Related Idioms

Hard and fast: Rigid and definite (usually referring to rules).
- There are no hard and fast rules for this. (There are no strict, inflexible rules.)
Pull a fast one: To deceive or trick someone.
- He tried to pull a fast one on his boss, but he got caught. (He tried to trick his boss.)
Thick and fast: In large numbers and rapidly.
- Complaints were coming in thick and fast. (Many complaints arrived quickly.)

You must fast for twelve hours before the blood test.

Verb

abstain from eating
- Before the medical exam, you must fast
abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
- Catholics sometimes fast during Lent

Adjective

(of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
- a fast lens
unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
- a firm ally
- loyal supporters
- the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison
- fast friends
securely fixed in place
- the post was still firm after being hit by the car
hurried and brief
- paid a flying visit
- took a flying glance at the book
- a quick inspection
- a fast visit
unrestrained by convention or morality
- Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
- deplorably dissipated and degraded
- riotous living
- fast women
resistant to destruction or fading
- fast colors
(of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
- a fast road
- grass courts are faster than clay
at a rapid tempo
- the band played a fast fox trot
(used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time
- my watch is fast
acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly
- fast film
- on the fast track in school
- set a fast pace
- a fast car

Noun

Adverb

firmly or closely
- held fast to the rope
- her foot was stuck fast
- held tight
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
- 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

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