Etymology : Latin rapidus seizing, sweeping, rapid, from rapere to seize, sweep away; akin to Lithuanian aprepti to embrace
Pronunciation : 'ra-p&d
Function : adjective
Date : 1634
1. section of a river with a swift current. quick, fast, swift. rapid\rap"id\ , a. [l. rapidus, fr. rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch or hurry away; perhaps akin to gr. ; cf. f. rapide. cf. harpy, ravish.].
2. very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion. ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels.
3. advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid recurrence; rapid succession.
4. quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.rapid \rap"id\, n. [cf. f. rapide. see:
rapid, a.] the part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; -- usually in the plural; as, the lachine rapids in the st. lawrence. row, brothers, row the stream runs fast, the rapids are near, and the daylight's past.rapid adj.
5. done or occurring in a brief period of time; "a rapid rise through the ranks".
6. characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed; "a rapid movment"; "a speedy car"; "a speedy errand boy" [syn: speedy] a part of a river where the current is very fastrapid resource and performance interactive display system.
7. Very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion.
8. Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid recurrence; rapid succession.
9. Quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.
10. The part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; usually in the plural; as, the Lachine rapids in the St.
11. Lawrence. a part of a river where the current is very fast done or occurring in a brief period of time; "a rapid rise through the ranks" characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed; "a rapid movment"; "a speedy car"; "a speedy errand boy".
12. 1. A rapid change is one that happens very quickly. the country's rapid economic growth in the 1980's the rapid decline in the birth rate in Western Europe. + rapidly rap·id·ly countries with rapidly growing populations = fast + rapidity ra·pid·ity the rapidity with which the weather can change. = speed.
13. A rapid movement is one that is very fast. He walked at a rapid pace along Charles Street. whether the Tunnel will provide more rapid car transport than ferries + rapidly rap·id·ly He was moving rapidly around the room = quickly + rapidity ra·pid·ity The water rushed through the holes with great rapidity. = speed. happening or done very quickly and in a very short time fast, quick quick (rapidus , from rapere; RAPE).