speed

speed [spēd]

n.

[ME sped < OE spæd, wealth, power, success, akin to spowan, to prosper, succeed < IE base * spēi-, to flourish, expand > SPACE, SPARE]

1. the act or state of moving rapidly; swiftness; quick motion

2.

a) the rate of movement or motion; VELOCITY (sense 2a)

b) the magnitude of a VELOCITY (sense 2b)

c) the rate or rapidity of any action [reading speed]

3. a gear or arrangement of gears for the drive of an engine or bicycle [a truck with five forward speeds]

4. Informal one's kind or level of taste, capability, etc.

☆ 5. Slang any of various amphetamine compounds, esp. methedrine

6. Archaic luck; success; prosperity [to wish someone good speed]

7. Photog.

a) the sensitivity of film to light, expressed in various numerical scales

b) the widest effective aperture of a camera lens: see also F-NUMBER

c) the length of time the shutter is opened for an exposure

adj.

of or having to do with speed

vi.

sped or speeded, speeding

1. to move rapidly, esp. more rapidly than is safe or allowed by law

2. Archaic

a) to get along; fare

b) to have fortune, good or bad

c) to have good fortune; prosper; succeed

vt.

1. to help (a project) to succeed; aid; promote

2. to wish Godspeed to [to speed the parting guest]

3. to send, convey, or cause to move, go, etc. swiftly [to speed a letter on its way]

4. to cause or design (a machine, etc.) to operate at a certain speed or speeds

5. Archaic to cause to succeed or prosper

SYN.- HASTE

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at speed

Chiefly Brit. quickly; rapidly

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speed up

to increase in speed; go or make go faster; accelerate

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up to speed

1. working or operating at full speed, maximum efficiency, etc.

2. Informal fully informed or having enough information