Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Moving or able to move with speed; fast: Describes something or someone that moves or acts at high speed.
   • Taking or lasting a short time: Refers to an action or event that happens in a brief period.
   • Prompt to understand, think, or learn; intelligent: Describes a person who grasps ideas or reacts with mental speed.
   • Easily aroused or excited: Describes a person who is prone to strong, immediate emotional reactions.

2. Noun:

   • The sensitive flesh under a fingernail or toenail; the tender, sensitive part of a wound: Refers to a living, sensitive area of the body.
   • (Archaic) Living people: Used in the phrase "the quick and the dead."

3. Adverb:

   • At a fast rate; quickly: Used to describe the manner of an action.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • She is a quick runner. (She runs fast.)
  • Let's have a quick lunch. (Let's have a brief lunch.)
  • He has a quick mind for puzzles. (He understands puzzles rapidly.)
  • Be careful; he has a quick temper. (Be careful; he angers easily.)

• Noun:

  • He trimmed his nail too short and cut into the quick. (He cut the sensitive flesh under the nail.)
  • (Archaic) The preacher spoke to the quick and the dead. (The preacher addressed both the living and the dead.)

• Adverb:

  • Come here, quick! (Come here, fast!)

Advanced Usage

• "to the quick": Deeply, to the most sensitive part (emotionally or physically).

  • Her harsh criticism stung him to the quick. (Her criticism hurt him deeply.)

• "quick on the draw/uptake": Very fast to react or understand.

  • In debates, she is always quick on the draw. (She responds very rapidly in debates.)

• "a quick one": (Informal) A fast drink, usually alcoholic.

  • Let's stop for a quick one at the pub. (Let's stop for a fast drink at the pub.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quickly (adverb): At high speed; rapidly.

  • He ran quickly to catch the bus.

• Quicken (verb): To make or become faster; to stimulate.

  • The pace of the music began to quicken.

• Quickness (noun): The quality of being fast; speed.

  • I was impressed by the quickness of her response.

Synonyms

• Fast: Moving or capable of moving at high speed.
• Rapid: Happening in a short time or at great speed.
• Swift: Happening quickly or promptly.
• Prompt: Done without delay; immediate.
• Brisk: Active, fast, and energetic.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Quick-fire (adjective, often hyphenated): Characterized by rapid succession.
  • The interviewer asked a series of quick-fire questions. (The questions came in rapid succession.)

Related Idioms

• Cut to the quick: To deeply hurt someone's feelings.

  • His betrayal cut her to the quick. (His betrayal hurt her very deeply.)

• Quick as a flash/wink: Extremely fast.

  • He answered the question quick as a flash. (He answered almost instantly.)

Adjective

1. easily aroused or excited
   • a quick temper
   • a warm temper
2. performed with little or no delay
   • an immediate reply to my letter
   • a prompt reply
   • was quick to respond
   • a straightaway denial
3. apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity
   • a quick mind
   • a ready wit
4. moving quickly and lightly
   • sleek and agile as a gymnast
   • as nimble as a deer
   • nimble fingers
   • quick of foot
   • the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it
5. hurried and brief
   • paid a flying visit
   • took a flying glance at the book
   • a quick inspection
   • a fast visit
6. accomplished rapidly and without delay
   • was quick to make friends
   • his quick reaction prevented an accident
   • hoped for a speedy resolution of the problem
   • a speedy recovery
   • he has a right to a speedy trial

Noun

1. any area of the body that is highly sensitive to pain (as the flesh underneath the skin or a fingernail or toenail)

Adverb

1. with little or no delay
   • the rescue squad arrived promptly
   • come here, quick!