quick
/kwik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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."
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
- easily aroused or excited
- a quick temper
- a warm temper
- performed with little or no delay
- an immediate reply to my letter
- a prompt reply
- was quick to respond
- a straightaway denial
- apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity
- a quick mind
- a ready wit
- 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
- hurried and brief
- paid a flying visit
- took a flying glance at the book
- a quick inspection
- a fast visit
- 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
- any area of the body that is highly sensitive to pain (as the flesh underneath the skin or a fingernail or toenail)
Adverb
- with little or no delay
- the rescue squad arrived promptly
- come here, quick!