Definitions for swift
swɪftswift

Princeton's WordNet(2.60 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Swift, Gustavus Franklin Swiftnoun

   United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

2. Swift, Jonathan Swift, Dean Swiftnoun

   an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

3. swiftnoun

   a small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

4. western fence lizard, swift, blue-belly, Sceloporus occidentalisadjective

   common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

5. fleet, swiftadjective

   moving very fast

   "fleet of foot"; "the fleet scurrying of squirrels"; "a swift current"; "swift flight of an arrow"; "a swift runner"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. swiftnoun

   The current of a stream.

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

2. swiftnoun

   A small plain-colored bird (of the family Micropodidæ) that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight. Common European swift: Cypselus, u2228 Micropus, apus. The common American, or chimney, swift: Chætura pelagica. The Australian swift: Chætura caudacuta. The European Alpine swift: Cypselus melba. The common Indian swift: Cypselus affinis.

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

3. swiftnoun

   A western fence lizard, swift, blue-belly, Sceloporus occidentalis -- (common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks)

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

4. swiftnoun

   The ghost moth.

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

5. swiftadjective

   fast; quick; rapid.

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

6. swiftadjective

   Capable of moving at high speeds.

   Etymology: From the verb swīfan

7. Swiftnoun

   A surname, originally a nickname for a swift or quick person.

8. Swiftnoun

   A general-purpose multi-paradigm compiled programming language introduced by Apple Inc. in 2014.

   If anyone outside Apple saw Swift coming, they certainly weren't making any public predictions.

9. Swiftnoun

   Alternative letter-case form of SWIFT

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Swiftverb

   moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

2. Swiftverb

   of short continuance; passing away quickly

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

3. Swiftadverb

   swiftly

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

4. Swiftnoun

   the current of a stream

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

5. Swiftnoun

   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

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

6. Swiftnoun

   any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

7. Swiftnoun

   the ghost moth. See under Ghost

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

8. Swiftnoun

   a reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

9. Swiftnoun

   the main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine

   Etymology: [Cf. Swivel.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Swift

   The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds. The treeswifts are closely related to the true swifts, but form a separate family, the Hemiprocnidae. The resemblances between swifts and swallows are due to convergent evolution, reflecting similar life styles based on catching insects in flight. The family scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet", since swifts have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, clinging instead to vertical surfaces. The tradition of depicting swifts without feet continued into the Middle Ages, as seen in the heraldic martlet.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Swift

   swift, adj. moving quickly: fleet, rapid: speedy: ready.—n. a genus (Cypselus) and family (Cypselidæ) of picarian birds, resembling the swallows in general appearance and habits, but most closely allied by anatomical structure to the humming-birds—with long pointed wings, a short tail, and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt: a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the current of a stream.—n. Swif′ter, any rope temporarily used to tighten or keep a thing in its place.—adjs. Swift′-foot′ed; Swift′-hand′ed; Swift′-heeled.—adv. Swift′ly, with swiftness: rapidly.—n. Swift′ness, quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed.—adj. Swift′-winged. [A.S. swift, from same root as swoop.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. swift

   When the lower rigging becomes slack at sea, single blocks are placed on each shroud about 8 feet above the deck, a hawser rove through them, and the rigging swifted in, to bring a fair strain. The bars of the capstan are swifted, by passing a rope-swifter over all their ends, and bowsing it well taut. The rigging is also swifted down preparatory to replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. swift

   Song lyrics by swift -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by swift on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Apodiform Bird
   • Meat Packer
   • Satirist

How to pronounce swift?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say swift in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of swift in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of swift in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of swift in a Sentence

1. Steven Mnuchin:

   As a result of Congress’s swift legislative action and Treasury’s and the Federal Reserve’s work to implement these programs, we have been successful in restoring confidence in financial conditions, it is my hope that, because of our responsible use of these authorities in a manner consistent with Congressional intent, Congress will show similar trust in Treasury and Federal Reserve leadership in the future.

2. Principal Karen Zuniga:

   Under no circumstances is that behavior tolerated at Lehman High School or in Hays CISD, we take the safety and security of our students seriously. We took swift action when this incident occurred and will do everything necessary to protect our students.

3. Steven Mnuchin:

   Treasury will be vigilant in ensuring that En+ and Rusal meet these commitments. If these companies fail to comply with the terms, they will face very real and swift consequences, including the reimposition of sanctions.

4. The United:

   The regime in Tehran should understand that any attacks by them or their proxies of any identity against The United States interests or citizens will be answered with a swift and decisive The United States response.

5. The US:

   The regime in Tehran should understand that any attacks by them or their proxies of any identity against The US interests or citizens will be answered with a swift and decisive The US response.

Images & Illustrations of swift

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