the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"
the first part or section of something; "`It was a dark and stormy night' is a hackneyed beginning for a story"
the event consisting of the start of something; "the beginning of the war"
the place where something begins, where it springs into being; "the Italian beginning of the Renaissance"; "Jupiter was the origin of the radiation"; "Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River"; "communism's Russian root"
the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"
acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; "fast film"; "on the fast track in school"; "set a fast pace"; "a fast car"
at a rapid tempo; "the band played a fast fox trot"
(used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time; "my watch is fast"
securely fixed in place; "the post was still firm after being hit by the car"
resistant to destruction or fading; "fast colors"
(of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds; "a fast road"; "grass courts are faster than clay"
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form); "how fast can he get here?"; "ran as fast as he could"; "needs medical help fast"; "fast-running rivers"; "fast-breaking news"; "fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters"
firmly or tightly; "held fast to the rope"; "her foot was stuck fast"; "held tight"
abstain from eating; "Before the medical exam, you must fast"
abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; "Catholics sometimes fast during Lent"
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view"
(New Testament) in Revelations it is foretold that those faithful to Jesus will reign with Jesus over the earth for a thousand years; the meaning of these words have been much debated; some denominations (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses) expect it to be a thousand years of justice and peace and happiness
the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating
increase (one's body weight); "She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising"
increase in; "gain momentum"; "gain nerve"
obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference"
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages; "How much do you make a month in your new job?"; "She earns a lot in her new job"; "this merger brought in lots of money"; "He clears $5,000 each month"
(sometimes followed by `with') in agreement or consistent or reliable; "testimony consistent with the known facts"; "I have decided that the course of conduct which I am following is consistent with my sense of responsibility as president in time of war"- FDR
the same throughout in structure or composition; "bituminous coal is often treated as a consistent and homogeneous product"