speech|writ|er /spiː tʃra I tə r / (speechwriters ) N‑COUNT A speechwriter is a person who writes speeches for important people such as politicians.
speed ◆◆◇ /spiː d/ (speeds , speeding , sped , speeded ) The form of the past tense and past participle is sped in meaning 5 but speeded for the phrasal verb. 1 N‑VAR The speed of something is the rate at which it moves or travels. □ He drove off at high speed. □ With this type of camera, the shutter speed is fixed. □ An electrical pulse in a wire travels close to the speed of light. □ Wind speeds reached force five.
2 N‑COUNT The speed of something is the rate at which it happens or is done. □ In the late 1850s the speed of technological change quickened. □ Each learner can proceed at his own speed.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Speed is very fast movement or travel. □ Speed is the essential ingredient of all athletics. □ He put on a burst of speed. □ The car is quite noisy at speed.
4 N‑UNCOUNT Speed is a very fast rate at which something happens or is done. □ [+ of ] I was amazed at his speed of working. □ [+ of ] …the sheer speed of the unification process.
5 VERB If you speed somewhere, you move or travel there quickly, usually in a vehicle. □ [V prep/adv] Cars continue to speed through our beautiful village. □ [V prep/adv] The engine noise rises only slightly as I speed along.
6 VERB [usu cont] Someone who is speeding is driving a vehicle faster than the legal speed limit. □ [V ] This man was not qualified to drive and was speeding. ● speed|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ He was fined for speeding last year.
7 N‑UNCOUNT Speed is an illegal drug such as amphetamine which some people take to increase their energy and excitement. [INFORMAL ]
8 → see also -speed
9 pick up speed → see pick
10 PHRASE If you are up to speed , you have all the most recent information that you need about something. □ A day has been set aside to bring all councillors up to speed on the proposal. □ Those in charge deluded themselves they were up to speed.
▸ speed up
1 PHRASAL VERB When something speeds up or when you speed it up , it moves or travels faster. □ [V P ] You notice that your breathing has speeded up a bit. □ [V P n] He pushed a lever that speeded up the car. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB When a process or activity speeds up or when something speeds it up , it happens at a faster rate. □ [V P ] Job losses are speeding up. □ [V P n] I had already taken steps to speed up a solution to the problem. □ [V n P ] I kept praying that the DJ would speed the music up.
-speed /-spiːd/ COMB -speed is used after numbers to form adjectives that indicate that a bicycle or car has a particular number of gears. □ …a 10-speed bicycle.
speed|boat /spiː dboʊt/ (speedboats ) N‑COUNT A speedboat is a boat that can go very fast because it has a powerful engine.
spee d cam|era (speed cameras ) N‑COUNT A speed camera is a camera positioned at the side of a road which automatically photographs vehicles that are going faster than is allowed. The photographs can be used as evidence in a court of law.
spee d da |ting N‑UNCOUNT Speed dating is a method of introducing unattached people to potential partners by arranging for them to meet a series of people on a single occasion. □ If you're a busy person, speed dating could be for you.
spee d dial (speed dials ) N‑VAR Speed dial is a facility on a phone that allows you to call a number by pressing a single button rather than by dialling the full number.
spee d lim|it (speed limits ) N‑COUNT The speed limit on a road is the maximum speed at which you are legally allowed to drive.
speed|om|eter /spiːdɒ m I tə r / (speedometers ) N‑COUNT A speedometer is the instrument in a vehicle which shows how fast the vehicle is moving.
speed|way /spiː dwe I / (speedways )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Speedway is the sport of racing motorcycles on special tracks.
2 N‑COUNT A speedway is a special track for car or motorcycle racing. [AM ]
speedy /spiː di/ (speedier , speediest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A speedy process, event, or action happens or is done very quickly. □ We wish Bill a speedy recovery.
spell ◆◇◇ /spe l/ (spells , spelling , spelled , spelt ) American English uses the form spelled as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either spelled or spelt . 1 VERB When you spell a word, you write or speak each letter in the word in the correct order. □ [V n] He gave his name and then helpfully spelt it. □ [V n] How do you spell 'potato'? □ [V -ed] 'Tang' is 'Gnat' spelt backwards. ● PHRASAL VERB Spell out means the same as spell . □ [V n P ] If I don't know a word, I ask them to spell it out for me. □ [V P n] I never have to spell out my first name.
2 VERB [no cont] Someone who can spell knows the correct order of letters in words. □ [V ] It's shocking how students can't spell these days. □ [V n] You accused me of inaccuracy yet you can't spell 'Middlesex'.
3 VERB [no cont] If something spells a particular result, often an unpleasant one, it suggests that this will be the result. □ [V n] If the irrigation plan goes ahead, it could spell disaster for the birds.