🔑rapidBrE/ˈræpɪd/NAmE/ˈræpɪd/adjective🔑[usually before noun]happeninginashortperiodoftime瞬间的；短时间内发生的◆rapidchange/expansion/growth迅速的改变/扩张/增长◆arapidrise/declineinsales销售额的急剧上升/下降◆Thepatientmadearapidrecovery. 病人很快恢复了健康。🔑doneorhappeningveryquickly迅速的；快速的；快捷的◆arapidpulse/heartbeat急促的脉搏/心跳◆Theguardfiredfourshotsinrapidsuccession. 卫兵接连开了四枪。◆Thediseaseisspreadingatarapidrate. 这种疾病正在迅速蔓延。fast / quick / rapid
These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns.这些形容词常与下列名词连用：
fast ~quick ~rapid ~carglancechangetrainlookgrowthbowlerreplyincreasepacedecisiondeclinelanewayprogress
Fast is used especially to describe a person or thing that moves or is able to move at great speed. * fast 尤用以描述高速运动的人或事物。
Quick is more often used to describe something that is done in a short time or without delay. * quick 较常用以描述迅速或立即完成的事。
Rapid, swift and speedy are more formal words. * rapid、swift 和 speedy 较正式。
Rapid is most commonly used to describe the speed at which something changes. It is not used to describe the speed at which something moves or is done. * rapid 最常用于描述事物变化的速度，而非运动或完成的速度：◆a rapid train◆We had a rapid coffee.
Swift usually describes something that happens or is done quickly and immediately. * swift 通常指事物发生或完成的速度快而及时：◆a swift decision迅即作出的决定◆The government took swift action.政府立即采取了行动。
Speedy has a similar meaning. * speedy 与 swift 意思相近：◆a speedy recovery迅速康复It is used less often to talk about the speed at which something moves.该词较少指事物运动速度快：◆a speedy car
For the use of fast and quick as adverbs, ➡ note atquick.关于 fast 和 quick 作副词的用法，见词条 quick 的用法说明。