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Fast vs Steady - What's the difference?

fast | steady | Synonyms |

Fast is a synonym of steady.


As verbs the difference between fast and steady

is that fast is while steady is to stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.

As an adjective steady is

firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.

As a noun steady is

(informal) a regular customer.

fast

English

(wikipedia fast)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) fast, from (etyl) ; see it for cognates and further etymology. The development of “rapid” from an original sense of “secure” apparently happened first in the adverb and then transferred to the adjective; compare (hard) in expressions like “to run hard”. The original sense of “secure, firm” is now slightly archaic, but retained in the related .

Adjective

(er)
  • (dated) Firmly or securely fixed in place; stable.
    • That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast !
  • Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.
  • * Spenser
    • outlaws lurking in woods and fast places
  • (of people) Steadfast, with unwavering feeling. (Now only in set phrases like "fast friend".)
  • Moving with great speed, or capable of doing so; swift, rapid.
    • I am going to buy a fast car.
  • (computing, of a piece of hardware) Able to transfer data in a short period of time.
  • Deep or sound (of sleep); fast asleep (of people).
  • * Shakespeare
    • all this while in a most fast sleep
  • (of dyes or colours) Not running or fading when subjected to detrimental conditions such as wetness or intense light; permanent.
    • All the washing has come out pink. That red tee-shirt was not fast .
  • (obsolete) Tenacious; retentive.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells.
  • (colloquial) Having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
    • She's fast – she slept with him on their first date. .
  • Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    • There must be something wrong with the hall clock. It is always fast .
  • (of photographic film) More sensitive to light than average.
    • Synonyms
    * (occurring or happening within a short time) quick, rapid, speedy, swift * (capable of moving with great speed) quick, rapid, speedy * (ahead of the correct time or schedule) ahead * (rapidly consents to sexual activity) easy, slutty * (firmly or securely fixed in place) firm, immobile, secure, stable, stuck, tight * (firm against attack) fortified, impenetrable * colour-fast * deep, sound
    Antonyms
    * (occurring or happening within a short time) slow * (ahead of the correct time or schedule) slow, behind * (firmly or securely fixed in place) loose * (firm against attack) penetrable, weak * light
    Derived terms
    * bedfast * chairfast * fasten (rapid) * fast and furious * fast food * fast-forward

    Adverb

    (er)
  • In a firm or secure manner, securely; in such a way as not to be moved .
  • (of sleeping) Deeply or soundly .
  • Immediately following in place or time; close, very near .
  • Quickly, with great speed; within a short time .
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-17, volume=408, issue=8849, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Pennies streaming from heaven , passage=Faster than a speeding bit, the internet upended media and entertainment companies. Piracy soared, and sales of albums and films slid. Newspapers lost advertising and readers to websites. Stores selling books, CDs and DVDs went bust. Doomsayers predicted that consumers and advertisers would abandon pay-television en masse in favour of online alternatives.}}
  • Ahead of the correct time or schedule.
    • Synonyms
    * (quickly) quickly, rapidly, speedily, swiftly * (in a firm or secure manner) firmly, securely, tightly * deeply * (ahead of the correct time or schedule) ahead
    Antonyms
    * (quickly) slowly * (in a firm or secure manner) loosely * lightly * (ahead of the correct time or schedule) behind

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (British, rail transport) A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations
    • Synonyms
    * (rail transport) express, express train, fast train
    Antonyms
    * (rail transport) local, slow train, stopper

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (archery) Short for "stand fast", a warning not to pass between the arrow and the target
    • Antonyms
    * (archery) loose

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fasten, from (etyl) . The noun is probably from (etyl) fasta.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To abstain from food, or eat very little, especially for religious or medical reasons.
    • Muslims fast during Ramadan.
  • * Bible, 2 Sam. xii. 21
    • Thou didst fast and weep for the child.
  • * Milton
    • Fasting' he went to sleep, and ' fasting waked.
  • * 2007 , John Zerzan, Silence , p. 3,
    • It is at the core of the Vision Quest, the solitary period of fasting and closeness to the earth to discover one's life path and purpose.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or practice of abstaining from food or of eating very little food
  • The period of time during which one abstains from or eats very little food
  • * Lent and Ramadan are fasts of two religions.
    • Synonyms
    * (act or practice) fasting
    Derived terms
    * break one's fast * breakfast * fast day

    Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * * * English contranyms English terms with multiple etymologies 1000 English basic words ----

    steady

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
  • :
  • *Sir (Philip Sidney) (1554-1586)
  • *:Their feet steady , their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
  • *
  • *:But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window,.
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
  • Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
  • :
  • Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
  • :
  • Regular and even.
  • :
  • Slow.

    • Antonyms

    * unsteady

    Derived terms

    * go steady * going steady * * rock-steady * steadily * steadiness * steady as she goes * steady on * steady state

    Verb

  • To stabilize something; to prevent from shaking.

    • Noun

    (steadies)
  • (informal) A regular customer.
  • * 2013 , Sheila Foster, Soho Whore
    • Some of my steadies wanted me to go out with them on a date. Occasionally I let one of them take me to a film or out for a meal.

    External links

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    Anagrams

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