rapid

Pluralrapids

1. 1
   adjective

   Happening or moving very fast.

   Like a sprinter dashing for the finish line.

   The patient made a rapid recovery after surgery.

   Prices rose at a rapid pace last year.

   Similarfast, quick, swift, speedy, brisk

   Oppositeslow, gradual, sluggish

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A stretch of fast, rough water in a river that is hard to travel through.

   Like a part of a river that boils and rushes the way water pours down a slide.

   The boat nearly tipped over in the rapids.

   They studied the rapid carefully before paddling down it.

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Sloping sharply up or down over a short distance.

   Like a hill so steep you almost have to climb it with your hands.

   The trail followed a rapid slope up the hillside.

   Hikers struggled on the rapid descent toward the valley.

   Similarsteep, sharp, abrupt, sudden

   Oppositegentle, gradual

4. 4
   adjective

   Needing only a short time to take a photo, as fast film or a fast lens does.

   Like a fast camera that snaps the picture before you even blink.

   Photographers used rapid film to catch fast-moving animals.

   A rapid lens let her shoot indoors without a flash.

   Similarfast

   Oppositeslow

   Note
5. 5
   nounabbreviationellipsis

   Short form of rapid chess. It means chess played with fast time limits.

   She won the rapid by a single point.

   He prefers the rapid to slower games.

   Note
6. 6
   adjectivedialectalEngland

   Very strong, harsh, or violent.

   Like a storm that smashes things, not a light breeze.

   They had a rapid fight, with chairs thrown across the room.

   The damage to the boat was rapid, with the whole hull smashed in.

   Similarviolent, fierce, severe

   Note

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