speed
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.how fast something or someone moves.
n.the rate at which someone or something moves or operates; the magnitude of velocity.
Simple“The car was travelling at a high speed when it turned the corner.”
In context“The aircraft reached its cruising speed shortly after leveling off at thirty thousand feet.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a slang name for a drug that makes you feel very excited and awake.
n.an amphetamine-based stimulant drug, typically used illegally to increase alertness or energy.
Simple“He was arrested for possession of speed and other illegal substances.”
In context“The long-term health effects of speed abuse include severe cardiovascular strain and neurological damage.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.how sensitive a camera is to light, or how fast the shutter closes.
n.the sensitivity of a photographic sensor to light, or the duration of a shutter exposure.
Simple“You need a fast shutter speed to take clear photos of sports.”
In context“Adjusting the ISO speed allows the photographer to capture images in low-light conditions without using a flash.”
Synonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
v.to move very quickly from one place to another.
v.to move or travel at high velocity.
Simple“The ambulance had to speed through traffic to reach the hospital.”
In context“The cyclists began to speed down the mountain road, reaching dangerous velocities on the sharp turns.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to drive a car faster than the legal limit.
v.to drive a motor vehicle faster than the legally prescribed limit.
Simple“He got a ticket because he was speeding in a school zone.”
In context“The driver was pulled over for speeding on the motorway, exceeding the limit by twenty miles per hour.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to make something happen faster than usual.
v.to increase the rate at which a process or event occurs; often used with 'up'.
Simple“We need to speed up the hiring process to find a new manager.”
In context“The new software was designed to speed up the data entry process, reducing the workload for the administrative staff.”
UsageOften used as the phrasal verb 'speed up'.
Synonyms - 07 C2 Proficiency
interj.a word used by film crews to say the equipment is ready to record.
interj.a signal used in film production to indicate that recording equipment has reached the required operating speed.
Simple“The sound engineer shouted 'speed' and the director called for action.”
In context“Once the technician confirmed speed, the camera operator began the complex tracking shot through the crowded set.”
Usage speed of light · speed limit · speed restrictions
From Middle English sped (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic spōan, from Proto-Germanic spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).
From Middle English speden, from Old English spēdan (“to speed, prosper, succeed, have success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdijan (“to succeed”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“to meet with success, assist, promote, accomplish, speed”), Dutch spoeden (“to hurry, rush”), Low German spoden, spöden (“to hasten, speed”), German sputen, spuden (“to speed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.