quick

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   easily aroused or excited

   a quick temper

2. 2
   adj

   accomplished rapidly and without delay

   was quick to make friends

3. 3
   adj

   apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity

   a quick mind

4. 4
   adj

   alive or living

   Man is no star, but a quick coal of mortal fire.

5. 5
   adj

   Moving with speed, rapidity or swiftness, or capable of doing so; rapid; fast.

   I ran to the station – but I wasn't quick enough.

6. 6
   adj

   Occurring in a short time; happening or done rapidly.

   That was a quick meal.

7. 7
   adj

   Lively, fast-thinking, witty, intelligent.

   You have to be very quick to be able to compete in ad-lib theatrics.

8. 8
   adj

   Mentally agile, alert, perceptive.

   My father is old but he still has a quick wit.

Etymology

From Middle English quik, quic (“living, alive, active”), from Old English cwic (“alive”), from Proto-West Germanic *kwiku (“alive, lively quick”), from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz (“alive, lively, quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (“alive”), from *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”), *gʷeyh₃w- (“to live”). For semantic development, compare lively. Cognate with Dutch kwik, kwiek (“lively, quick”), German keck (“sassy, cheeky”), Danish kvik (“lively, quick-witted, quick”), kvæg (“cattle”), Faroese kvikur (“quick”), Icelandic kvikur (“lively, quick”), Norn kvikk, hwikk (“living, swarming, teeming”), Norwe…