Speed
/spiːd/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe rate at which something moves or is able to move.
/spiːd/
The rate at which something moves or can move.
The speed of the train was impressive.
💡 Simply: Speed is how fast something goes. Like, if you run really fast, your speed is high!
👶 For kids: How fast something goes!
More Examples
He increased his speed to win the race.
How It's Used
"The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second."
"The car's speed limit was 65 mph."
To move or cause to move at a high speed.
/spiːd/
The car was speeding down the highway.
💡 Simply: To go faster! Like when you press the gas pedal in a car, you speed up.
👶 For kids: To go fast!
More Examples
Can you speed up the process of delivery?
How It's Used
"He was speeding in a school zone."
"The internet connection speeded up the download."
To help something succeed; to facilitate or expedite.
/spiːd/
This new technology will speed up the project.
💡 Simply: To make something happen faster or more easily, like getting your homework done quicker.
👶 For kids: To help something go faster or get done sooner.
More Examples
The new measures were expected to speed the peace process.
How It's Used
"The new software helped to speed the production process."
"We need to speed up the delivery of the packages."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
at full speed
Moving or working as fast as possible.
"The train was traveling at full speed."
break the speed limit
To drive faster than the allowed speed.
"The driver was arrested for breaking the speed limit."
speed of light
The speed at which light travels in a vacuum.
"The speed of light is the fastest speed in the universe."
From Middle English spede, from Old English spēd ('success, prosperity, speed'), from Proto-Germanic *spōdiz ('success, progress, haste'). Related to the verb 'succeed'.
The word 'speed' has been used since the Old English period, originally referring to success and prosperity, and gradually evolving to its current meaning of rate of motion.
Memory tip
Think of a speedometer; it tells you how fast you are moving.