immediate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having no intervening medium

   an immediate influence

2. 2
   adj

   performed with little or no delay

   an immediate reply to my letter

3. 3
   adj

   immediately before or after as in a chain of cause and effect

   the immediate result

4. 4
   adj

   of the present time and place

   the immediate revisions

5. 5
   adj

   Happening right away, instantly, with no delay.

   Computer users these days expect immediate results when they click on a link.

6. 6
   adj

   Very close; direct or adjacent.

   immediate family; immediate vicinity

7. 7
   adj

   Used to denote that a transmission is urgent.

   Bravo Three, this Bravo Six. Immediate! We are coming under fire from the north from an unknown enemy, over!

8. 8
   adj

   An artillery fire mission modifier for two types of fire mission to denote an immediate need for fire: Immediate smoke, all guns involved must reload smoke and fire. Immediate suppression, all guns involved fire the rounds currently loaded and then switch to high explosive with impact fused (unless fuses are specified).

   Hotel Two-Niner, this is Bravo Six. Immediate suppression at grid November-Kilo four-five-three two-one-five. Danger Close. I authenticate Golf Echo, over.

Etymology

From Old French immediat (French immédiat), borrowed from Late Latin immediātus (“without in-between, moderation”), from Latin in + mediātus, perfect passive participle of mediō (“to halve, to be in the middle”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from medius (“middle”). By surface analysis, im- + mediate.