Quick — Defs

01 a. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate.

1.
Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate.
“Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were.” — Chaucer.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” — 2 Tim. iv. 1.

“Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire.” — Herbert.
2.
Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready.
3.
Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.
“Oft he to her his charge of quick return Repeated.” — Milton.
4.
Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
“The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended.” — Latimer.
5.
Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
“The air is quick there, And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.” — Shak.
6.
Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear.
“They say that women are so quick.” — Tennyson.
7.
Pregnant; with child.

Phrases & compounds

Quick grass — See Quitch grass.

Quick match — See under Match.

Quick vein — a vein of ore which is productive, not barren.

Quick vinegar — vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material.

Quick water — quicksilver water.

Quick with child — pregnant with a living child.

02 adv. In a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run quick; get back quick.

1.
In a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run quick; get back quick.
“If we consider how very quick the actions of the mind are performed.” — Locke.

03 n. That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.

1.
That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.
“The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick.” — Evelyn.
2.
The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which the nail is attached; the tender emotions; as, to cut a finger nail to the quick; to thrust a sword to the quick, to taunt one to the quick; -- used figuratively.
“This test nippeth, . . . this toucheth the quick.” — Latimer.

“How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to the quick of the difference !” — Fuller.
3.
Quitch grass.(Bot.)

04 v. t. & i. To revive; to quicken; to be or become alive.