Definitions for swift
swɪftswift

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Swift, Gustavus Franklin Swift(noun)

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

2. Swift, Jonathan Swift, Dean Swift(noun)

   an English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

3. swift(noun)

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

4. western fence lizard, swift, blue-belly, Sceloporus occidentalis(adj)

   common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

5. fleet, swift(adj)

   moving very fast

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

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. swift(Noun)

   The current of a stream.

2. swift(Noun)

   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.

3. swift(Noun)

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

4. swift(Noun)

   The ghost moth.

5. swift(Adjective)

   fast; quick; rapid.

6. swift(Adjective)

   Capable of moving at high speeds.

7. Swift(ProperNoun)

   , originally a nickname for a swift or quick person.

Origin: From the verb swīfan

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

1. Swift(verb)

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

2. Swift(verb)

   of short continuance; passing away quickly

3. Swift(adverb)

   swiftly

4. Swift(noun)

   the current of a stream

5. Swift(noun)

   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

6. Swift(noun)

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

7. Swift(noun)

   the ghost moth. See under Ghost

8. Swift(noun)

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

9. Swift(noun)

   the main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine

Origin: [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.

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. Co Inc analyst John Larkin:

   The long-term outlook for Swift is spectacular.

2. Author Unknown:

   Like swift water an active mind never stagnates.

3. John Doyle:

   SWIFT doesn’t replace prudent banking practice.

4. Seneca:

   Delay not swift the flight of fortune's greatest favours.

5. Labour Kellie Leitch:

   Our government will take swift action to protect our economy.

Images & Illustrations of swift

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