Quick a. [Compar. Quicker superl. Quickest.]
  1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate.
     Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were.   --Chaucer.
     The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.   --2 Tim. iv. 1.
  Man is no star, but a quick coal
  Of mortal fire.   -- Herbert.
  Note: ☞ In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases.
  2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. “ A quick wit.”
  3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.
  Oft he to her his charge of quick return
  Repeated.   --Milton.
  4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
     The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended.   -- Latimer.
  5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
  The air is quick there,
  And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.   -- Shak.
  6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. “To have an open ear, a quick eye.”
     They say that women are so quick.   --Tennyson.
  7. Pregnant; with child.
  Quick grass. Bot. See Quitch grass.
  Quick match. See under Match.
  Quick vein Mining, a vein of ore which is productive, not barren.
  Quick vinegar, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material.
  Quick water, quicksilver water.
  Quick with child, pregnant with a living child.
  Syn: -- Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly.