6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If colours or dyes are fast , they do not come out of the fabrics they are used on when they get wet. □ The fabric was ironed to make the colours fast.
7 VERB If you fast , you eat no food for a period of time, usually for either religious or medical reasons, or as a protest. □ [V ] I fasted for a day and half and asked God to help me. ● N‑COUNT Fast is also a noun. □ The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water. ● fast|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the Muslim holy month of fasting and prayer.
8 PHRASE Someone who is fast asleep is completely asleep. □ When he went upstairs five minutes later, she was fast asleep.
9 to make a fast buck → see buck
fa st-breeder re|a c|tor (fast-breeder reactors ) N‑COUNT A fast-breeder reactor or a fast-breeder is a kind of nuclear reactor that produces more plutonium than it uses.
fas|ten /fɑː s ə n, fæ s-/ (fastens , fastening , fastened )
1 VERB When you fasten something, you close it by means of buttons or a strap, or some other device. If something fastens with buttons or straps, you can close it in this way. □ [V n] She got quickly into her Mini and fastened the seat-belt. □ [be V -ed prep] Her long fair hair was fastened at the nape of her neck by an elastic band. □ [V prep] …the dress, which fastens with a long back zip. [Also V n prep]
2 VERB If you fasten one thing to another, you attach the first thing to the second, for example with a piece of string or tape. □ [V n prep/adv] There were no instructions on how to fasten the carrying strap to the box.
3 → see also fastening
fas|ten|er /fɑː sənə r , fæ s-/ (fasteners ) N‑COUNT A fastener is a device such as a button, zip, or small hook that fastens something, especially clothing.
fas|ten|ing /fɑː sən I ŋ, fæ s-/ (fastenings ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A fastening is something such as a clasp or zip that you use to fasten something and keep it shut. □ The sundress has a neat back zip fastening.
fa st foo d N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N ] Fast food is hot food, such as hamburgers and chips, that you obtain from particular types of restaurant, and which is served quickly after you order it. □ James works as assistant chef at a fast food restaurant.
fa st fo r|ward (fast forwards , fast forwarding , fast forwarded ) also fast-forward
1 VERB When you fast forward the tape in a video or tape recorder or when you fast forward , you make the tape go forwards. Compare rewind . □ [V n] Just fast forward the video. □ [V n prep/adv] He fast-forwarded the recording past the explosion. □ [V ] The urge to fast-forward is almost irresistible. [Also V prep/adv]
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] If you put a video or cassette tape on fast forward , you make the tape go forwards. Compare rewind . □ Before recording onto a new tape, wind it on fast forward, then rewind.
fas|tidi|ous /fæst I diəs/
1 ADJ If you say that someone is fastidious , you mean that they pay great attention to detail because they like everything to be very neat, accurate, and in good order. □ …her fastidious attention to historical detail. □ [+ about ] He was fastidious about his appearance.
2 ADJ If you say that someone is fastidious , you mean that they are concerned about keeping clean to an extent that many people consider to be excessive. □ Be particularly fastidious about washing your hands before touching food. ● fas|tidi|ous|ly ADV □ Ernestine kept her daughters fastidiously clean.
fa st lane (fast lanes )
1 N‑COUNT On a motorway, the fast lane is the part of the road where the vehicles that are travelling fastest go. [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑SING If someone is living in the fast lane , they have a very busy, exciting life, although they sometimes seem to take a lot of risks. □ …a tale of life in the fast lane.
fast|ness /fɑː stnəs, fæ st-/ (fastnesses ) N‑COUNT A fastness is a place, such as a castle, which is considered safe because it is difficult to reach or easy to defend against attack. [LITERARY ] □ They could have withdrawn into the mountain fastness of Eryri.
fa st track (fast tracks , fast tracking , fast tracked ) also fast-track
1 N‑SING [N n] The fast track to a particular goal, especially in politics or in your career, is the quickest route to achieving it. □ [+ to ] Many saw independence as the fast track to democracy.
2 VERB To fast track something means to make it happen or progress faster or earlier than normal. □ [be V -ed] A Federal Court case had been fast tracked to Wednesday. □ [V n] Woodward has fast-tracked a number of youngsters into the line-up since he became coach.
fat ◆◆◇ /fæ t/ (fatter , fattest , fats )
1 ADJ If you say that a person or animal is fat , you mean that they have a lot of flesh on their body and that they weigh too much. You usually use the word fat when you think that this is a bad thing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I could eat what I liked without getting fat. □ After five minutes, the fat woman in the seat in front of me was asleep. ● fat|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ No one knows whether a tendency towards fatness is inherited.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Fat is the extra flesh that animals and humans have under their skin, which is used to store energy and to help keep them warm. □ Because you're not burning calories, everything you eat turns to fat.