quick

1 /kwIk/ adjective

1 SHORT TIME continuing or existing for only a short time: I just have to make a quick phone call. | John had a quick meal and then went out again. | That was quick! I thought you'd be another hour.

2 FAST moving or happening fast: She walked with short, quick steps. | A series of quick changes take place as the chemicals bond.

3 SOON happening very soon, without any delay: We've put the house on the market and we're hoping for a quick sale.

4 CLEVER able to learn and understand things fast: That child's a really quick learner. | a quick study AmE slang (=a student who is clever and learns quickly)

5 be quick to hurry: If you want to come with me you'll have to be quick - I'm leaving in ten minutes. | be quick about it: Just bring me that book, and be quick about it.

6 be quick to do sth to react quickly to what someone says or does: You're always very quick to criticize my ideas - let's hear yours!

7 be quick on the draw/uptake to quickly understand a situation or what someone tells you, so that you know what you have to do

8 a quick one/half/pint especially BrE informal a drink that you have in a hurry: Let's stop for a quick one before the train comes.

9 have a quick temper to get angry very easily

10 a quick fix informal a repair to something or an answer to a problem that will work only for a short time

—see also: quickly — quickness noun (U) 2 interjection used to tell someone to hurry or come quickly: Quick! We'll miss the bus! | Come on! Quick! 3 adverb quickly; fast: Come back quick - something terrible has happened! | quick as a flash informal (=very quickly): Quick as a flash she replied “That's not what I've heard!” 4 noun (U)

1 cut sb to the quick if a remark or criticism cuts you to the quick, it makes you very upset

2 the quick the sensitive flesh under your fingernails and toenails: Her nails were bitten to the quick.

3 the quick and the dead old use all people, including those who are alive and those who are dead