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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Rapid \Rap"id\ (r[a^]p"[i^]d), a. [L. rapidus, fr. rapere to
seize and carry off, to snatch or hurry away; perhaps akin to
Gr. 'arpa`zein: cf. F. rapide. Cf. {Harpy}, {Ravish}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a
rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion.
[1913 Webster]

Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]

2. Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in
quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid
recurrence; rapid succession.
[1913 Webster]

3. Quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.
[1913 Webster] Rapid


Rapid \Rap"id\, Rapids \Rap"ids\(r[a^]p"[i^]dz), n. [Cf. F.
rapide. See {Rapid}, a.]
The part of a river where the current moves with great
swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; sometimes
called {whitewater}; -- usually used in the plural; as, the
Lachine rapids in the St. Lawrence. For boaters on the river,
it is a place that can be hazardous, with danger of capsizing
or crashing into large rocks.
[1913 Webster PJC]

Row, brothers, row, the stream runs fast,
The rapids are near, and the daylight's past. --Moore.
[1913 Webster] Rapid-fire