swift
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++swift1 /swɪft/ ●○○ adjective 1 FAST/QUICKhappening or done quickly and immediately 迅速的；立刻的 My letter received a swift reply. 我的信很快就得到了回复。 She shot a swift glance at Paul. 她迅速瞥了保罗一眼。swift to do something They were swift to deny the accusations. 他们立刻否认这些指控。2 [only before noun]FAST/QUICK moving, or able to move, very fast （能）迅速移动的；速度非常快的 a swift runner 跑得飞快的人 She wiped her tears away in one swift movement. 她迅速擦去眼泪。► see thesaurus at fast3. somebody is not too swift American English spoken used to say that someone is not very intelligent 某人不太聪明，某人笨 —swiftly adverb Alice dressed swiftly. 艾丽斯很快穿好衣服。 —swiftness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
swift• Their victory was swift and decisive.• Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.• We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits.• With the hood open he made a swift examination of the engine.• Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks.• While, at a superficial level, the titles might well mislead, a swift glance at the contents is reassuring.• With two swift motions she pinned him.• But only the swiftest of action will save a woman who's already lost her husband from losing her home as well.• His swift progress made a life in music almost inevitable.• They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, and flung the severed head into the swift river Hebrus.• The drop was so swift that the engine stalled briefly, then coughed into action.• The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.swift to do something• They are a wild, free-spirited people, quick-tempered as Elves go, and swift to avenge any stain on their honour.• She loved her lessons, always asking questions, swift to learn, greedy for more information.• A basic condition of joining is the willingness to be arrested, and the authorities have been swift to oblige.swift2 noun [countable] HBBa small brown bird that has pointed wings, flies very fast, and is similar to a swallow 雨燕Examples from the Corpus
swift• These animals are unrivalled for their grace and swiftness.• The church tower was altered in the 1950s and swifts can no longer get in.• One other small bird which might be considered is the black swift.• Each year it is the same and it starts when the black swifts begin to flock and sweep over the Zoo.• A raven flaps aimlessly across the scene, and white-throated swifts swoop past in violent arcs.• Above me were swifts scything their blue and white fields.From Longman Business DictionarySWIFTSWIFT /swɪft/ nounBANKINGTELECOMMUNICATIONS Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications; an electronic system that allows banks all over the world to send information and payments to each otherOrigin swift1 Old Englishswift1 adjectiveswift2 nounChinese
Business immediately or Corpus done happening quickly and
swift
swift1 /swɪft/ 
adjective
My letter received a swift reply.
She shot a swift glance at Paul.
swift to do something
They were swift to deny the accusations.
2. [only before noun] moving, or able to move, very fast:
a swift runner
She wiped her tears away in one swift movement.
3. somebody is not too swift American English spoken used to say that someone is not very intelligent
—swiftly adverb:
Alice dressed swiftly.
—swiftness noun [uncountable]
▪ fast moving or able to move quickly: The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world. | a fast car
▪quick moving fast or doing something in a short time: He was much quicker than I was over the first 100 metres. | Do I have time for a quick shower?
▪high-speed [only before noun] designed to travel or operate very quickly: a high-speed train | high-speed Internet access
▪rapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc: a rapid increase in the population | the rapid expansion of the firm’s business in the Middle East | a rapid decline in profits
▪swift written moving quickly or happening after only a short time: The horses ran along the track at a swift trot. | He received a swift response to his letter.
▪brisk quick and energetic: a brisk walk in the countryside | His manner was very brisk.
▪speedy [only before noun] happening after only a short time: Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery. | a speedy resolution to the problem
▪hurried done more quickly that usual, because you do not have much time: She ate a hurried breakfast in the cafe before catching her train. | We made a hurried departure.
▪hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results: It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted. | Let’s not be too hasty.
swift2 noun [countable]
a small brown bird that has pointed wings, flies very fast, and is similar to a swallow
| I |
adjective Language: Old English
1. happening or done quickly and immediately: swift to do something
2. [only before noun] moving, or able to move, very fast:
3. somebody is not too swift American English spoken used to say that someone is not very intelligent
—swiftly adverb:
—swiftness noun [uncountable]
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noun [countable]a small brown bird that has pointed wings, flies very fast, and is similar to a swallow
Swift
Swift, Graham
(1949–) a British writer whose best-known novels are Waterland and Last Orders. Both books have been made into successful films, and Last Orders won the Booker Prize in 1996.
Swift, Jon‧a‧than /ˈdʒɒnəθən $ ˈdʒɑː-/
(1667–1745) an Irish writer who is best known for his book GULLIVER’S TRAVELS but who also wrote many other satirical stories and clever articles, in which he used humour to criticize institutions such as the universities, the legal profession, and the political parties. He was also a priest in the Church of England, and became Dean (=a high-ranking priest) of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Because of this, he is sometimes called ‘Dean Swift’.
| I |
(1949–) a British writer whose best-known novels are Waterland and Last Orders. Both books have been made into successful films, and Last Orders won the Booker Prize in 1996.
| II |
(1667–1745) an Irish writer who is best known for his book GULLIVER’S TRAVELS but who also wrote many other satirical stories and clever articles, in which he used humour to criticize institutions such as the universities, the legal profession, and the political parties. He was also a priest in the Church of England, and became Dean (=a high-ranking priest) of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Because of this, he is sometimes called ‘Dean Swift’.