Definition of "rapid" in English

adjective

1. Very swift or quick.

   • a rapid stream
   • rapid growth
   • rapid improvement

2. Steep, changing altitude quickly. (of a slope)

3. Needing only a brief exposure time. (of a lens, plate, film, etc.)

4. (England, dialectal) Violent, severe.

5. (obsolete, dialectal) Happy.

adverb

1. (archaic, colloquial) Rapidly.

noun

1. (usually in the plural) A rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water.

2. (dated) A burst of rapid fire.

3. (chess) Ellipsis of rapid chess.