quick

"Quick" usually describes something that happens fast or takes only a short time. A quick run to the store, a quick look at a message, or a quick answer all suggest speed and very little delay. It can also describe a person who learns, thinks, or reacts fast, as in a quick learner or a quick thinker. Sometimes it describes feelings that rise fast, like a quick temper. In everyday English, it often carries a sense of speed, ease, and no wasted time.

The word "quick" is mainly about speed, but it is used in a few closely related ways. Most often, it describes something that moves fast, happens fast, or is done in a short time. A quick step, a quick meal, a quick phone call, or a quick decision all carry the idea of little delay. Sometimes the focus is on speed itself, and sometimes the focus is on how short the action is.

It is also common for people. A quick learner understands new things fast. A quick thinker reacts well under pressure. A quick hand or quick reflexes suggest fast physical response. In this sense, the word often points to ability as much as speed.

"Quick" can describe how feelings appear too. A quick temper means anger rises easily and suddenly. A quick smile or a quick laugh suggests an immediate reaction. In daily speech, the word often adds a sense of directness and efficiency, as in a quick check, a quick chat, or a quick shower.

There are also a few special uses. In older or fixed expressions, "quick" can mean "alive," as in "the quick and the dead." In anatomy, the quick is the sensitive living part under a fingernail or animal claw. These meanings are much less common today, but they are still part of the word's full story.