English
speed
see also: Speed
Pronunciation Noun

speed

  1. The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion; rapidity.
    How does Usain Bolt run at that speed?
  2. The rate of motion or action, specifically (mathematics)/(physics) the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.
    Speed limits provide information to the drivers about the safe speed to travel in average conditions.
  3. (photography) The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.
  4. (photography) The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).
  5. (photography) The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.
  6. (photography) The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.
  7. (slang, uncountable) Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.
  8. (archaic) Luck, success, prosperity.
  9. (slang) Personal preference.
    We could go to the shore next week, or somewhere else if that's not your speed.
  10. (finance, uncountable) A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations
  • German: Filmempfindlichkeit
  • Russian: светочувстви́тельность
Translations
  • Russian: вы́держка
Translations
  • Russian: относительный
Translations Verb

speed (speeds, present participle speeding; past and past participle sped)

  1. (intransitive, archaic) To succeed; to prosper, be lucky.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:4.1?rgn=div2;view=fulltext chapter 1], in Le Morte Darthur, book I:
      And yf I maye fynde suche a knyghte that hath all these vertues / he may drawe oute this swerd oute of the shethe / for I haue ben at kyng Ryons / it was told me ther were passyng good knyghtes / and he and alle his knyghtes haue assayed it and none can spede
    • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act V, Scene i:
      We have been praying for our husbands' healths,
      Which speed, we hope, the better for our words.
      Are they returned?
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 54573970 ↗, partition I, section 2, member 4, subsection vii:
      Aristotle must find out the motion of Euripus; Pliny must needs see Vesuvius; but how sped they? One loseth goods, another his life.
    • 18thc., Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland
      At night returning, every labor sped, / He sits him down the monarch of a shed: / Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys, / His children’s looks, that brighten at the blaze;
  2. (transitive, archaic) To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.
    God speed, until we meet again.
    • c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The VVinters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene iv]:
      Fortune speed us! So we set forth to sea
    • with rising gales that speed their happy flight
  3. (intransitive) To go fast.
    The Ferrari was speeding along the road.
    • c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene ii]:
      I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility.
  4. (intransitive) To exceed the speed limit.
    Why do you speed when the road is so icy?
  5. (transitive) To increase the rate at which something occurs.
    • 1982, Carole Offir & Carole Wade, Human sexuality, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, p.454:
      It is possible that the uterine contractions speed the sperm along.
    • 2004, James M. Cypher & James L. Dietz, The process of economic development, Routledge, p.359:
      Such interventions can help to speed the process of reducing CBRs and help countries pass through the demographic transition threshold more quickly […].
  6. (intransitive, slang) To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.
    • 2008, Christos Tsiolkas, The Slap, Allen and Unwin, p.46:
      If Hector had not been speeding, it was possible that his next thought would have hurt: he loves his uncle unconditionally, in a way he will never love me.
  7. (obsolete) To be expedient.
  8. (archaic) To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.
    • c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:
      infected with the fashions, full of wingdalls, sped with spavins, rayed with yellows
    • 1735, [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot, London; Dublin: Re-printed by George Faulkner, bookseller, […], OCLC 6363280 ↗:
      A dire dilemma! either way I'm sped. / If foes, they write, if friends, they read, me dead.
  9. (archaic) To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
    • 1726, Homer; [Alexander Pope], transl., “Book XV”, in The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume IV, London: Printed for Bernard Lintot, OCLC 8736646 ↗:
      Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.
  10. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
    • He sped him thence home to his habitation.
  11. To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
    • Judicial acts […] are sped in open court at the instance of one or both of the parties.
Translations
Speed
Proper noun
  1. Surname


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