SWIFT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Swift mean? 

• SWIFT (noun)
  The noun SWIFT has 4 senses:

1. United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

2. an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

3. a small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

4. common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

  Familiarity information: SWIFT used as a noun is uncommon.

• SWIFT (adjective)
  The adjective SWIFT has 1 sense:

1. moving very fast

  Familiarity information: SWIFT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWIFT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Gustavus Franklin Swift; Swift

Instance hypernyms:

meat packer; packer (a wholesaler in the meat-packing business)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Dean Swift; Jonathan Swift; Swift

Instance hypernyms:

ironist; ridiculer; satirist (a humorist who uses ridicule and irony and sarcasm)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("swift" is a kind of...):

apodiform bird (nonpasserine bird having long wings and weak feet; spends much of its time in flight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "swift"):

Apus apus; European swift (common European bird with a shrieking call that nests chiefly about eaves of buildings or on cliffs)

Chateura pelagica; chimney swallow; chimney swift (American swift that nests in e.g. unused chimneys)

Collocalia inexpectata; swiftlet (swift of eastern Asia; produces the edible bird's nest)

Holonyms ("swift" is a member of...):

Apodidae; family Apodidae (swifts; in former classifications included in the order Coraciiformes)

Derivation:

swiftlet (swift of eastern Asia; produces the edible bird's nest)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

blue-belly; Sceloporus occidentalis; swift; western fence lizard

Hypernyms ("swift" is a kind of...):

fence lizard (spiny lizard often seen basking on fences in the United States and northern Mexico)

• SWIFT (adjective)

Comparative: swifter   
Superlative: swiftest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moving very fast

Synonyms:

fleet; swift

Context example:

a swift runner

Similar:

fast (acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly)

Derivation:

swiftness (a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens)

 Context examples 

Mugridge heard and shot a swift glance at me, but I gave no sign that the conversation had reached me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His uplifted hand descended, and thereafter rose and fell in a swift and steady rhythm.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Time is everything with him; and swift action on our part may save another victim.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Eclipses are the most dramatic tool the universe uses to create sudden, swift progress and change.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He would not do this, if he did not see that the boy had some swift means of escape.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When they saw the Witch of the East was dead the Munchkins sent a swift messenger to me, and I came at once.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

He sprang through the sleeping camp and in swift silence dashed through the woods.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Holmes continued his swift investigation of documents while his prisoner cursed and swore.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Ma foi, but they are very swift!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At that time my virtue slumbered; my evil, kept awake by ambition, was alert and swift to seize the occasion; and the thing that was projected was Edward Hyde.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)