speed

speed1 [ spid ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount movement that is very fast:

The main advantage of this bike is its speed.

a ) the rate at which something moves:

speed of: The device measures the speed and direction of the wind.

top speed (=the fastest that something can travel): The new model has a top speed of 125 miles per hour.

pick up/gather speed (=go faster): The hurricane has picked up speed and turned toward the coast.

b ) the rate at which something happens:

They were working with incredible speed.

c ) the rate at which a machine works:

a printing speed of 6 pages per minute

2. ) count a GEAR:

a car with a 5-speed transmission

3. ) count the time it takes for a camera's SHUTTER to open and close to allow light in:

shutter speed

a ) a measurement of how quickly a FILM reacts to the light that comes into a camera

4. ) uncount an illegal drug that makes people feel as if they have a lot of energy: AMPHETAMINE

up to speed

1. ) INFORMAL knowing everything you need to know about something:

up to speed on: The president is being kept up to speed on the situation.

2. ) at the speed or level that is expected

speed

speed 2 [ spid ] (past tense and past participle sped [ sped ] or speed|ed) verb **

1. ) intransitive speed toward/away/through etc. to move quickly:

an endless stream of traffic speeding toward the city

I heard a car speed away.

a ) transitive to take someone somewhere quickly:

speed someone to/across/up etc. something: The train speeds passengers to Paris in just over three hours.

2. ) intransitive to drive a car faster than the fastest speed legally allowed:

Drivers who are caught speeding risk a heavy fine.

3. ) transitive to do something quickly:

Regular exercise will help speed your recovery.

To speed the design process, the workers will be divided into three teams.

,speed `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to move or happen faster:

You see drivers speeding up when they should be slowing down.

2. ) transitive to make something go faster or happen faster:

speed things up: We're hoping the changes will help speed things up.