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Entry 9 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Swift

/(swĭft)/ · IPA /swɪft/
01 a. Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.
  1. 1.
    Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.
    “My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” — James i. 19.
    “Swift of dispatch and easy of access.” — Dryden.
    “And bring upon themselves swift destruction.” — 2 Pet. ii. 1.
  2. 2.
    Of short continuance; passing away quickly.
Syn. Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious.
02 adv. Swiftly.
  1. 1.
    Swiftly.[Obs. or Poetic]
    “Ply swift and strong the oar.” — Southey.
03 n. The current of a stream.
  1. 1.
    The current of a stream.[R.]
  2. 2.
    Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.(Zool.)
  3. 3.
    Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.(Zool.)
  4. 4.
    The ghost moth. See under Ghost.(Zool.) See: Ghost
  5. 5.
    A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.
  6. 6.
    The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.