instant

instant
/in"steuhnt/, n.
1. an infinitesimal or very short space of time; a moment: They arrived not an instant too soon.
2. the point of time now present or present with reference to some action or event.
3. a particular moment: at the instant of contact.
4. a food or beverage, esp. coffee, specially processed for quick preparation.
5. Older Use. the present or current month.
adj.
6. succeeding without any interval of time; prompt; immediate: instant relief from a headache.
7. pressing or urgent: instant need.
8. noting a food or beverage requiring a minimal amount of time and effort to prepare, as by heating or the addition of milk or water, before being served or used: instant coffee; instant pudding.
9. occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation: an instant book; instant answers; instant history.
10. designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately: an instant lottery.
11. Older Use. of the present month: your letter of the 12th instant. Abbr.: inst. Cf. proximo, ultimo.
12. present; current: the instant case before the court.
adv.
13. instantly.
[1350-1400; 1910-15; for def. 8; ME < L instant- (s. of instans) prp. of instare to be present, urgent, equiv. to in- IN-2 + -sta- STAND + -nt- prp. suffix]
Syn. 1. second, twinkling, flash, jiffy, trice. See minute1.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • instant — instant, ante 1. (in stan, stan t ) adj. 1°   Qui poursuit, qui presse. Instante sollicitation. Aux instantes prières de cet homme. 2°   Qui nous est prochain, qui est sur nous. Le péril est instant. Le besoin est instant. •   Le régent avait… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • instant — n Instant, moment, minute, second, flash, jiffy, twinkling, split second are comparable when they mean a particular point of time or a stretch of time of almost imperceptible duration. Instant and moment are often used interchangeably {to us …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Instant — In stant, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See {Instant}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; as, teh situation may change in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instant — in·stant adj: being under present consideration the questions presented in the instant case Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. instant …   Law dictionary

  • Instant — In stant, a. [L. instans, antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See {Stand}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. [1913 Webster] Rejoicing in hope; patient… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instant- — DEFINICIJA 1. kao prvi dio riječi znači da što ima takav sastav ili da je izrađeno u takvoj tehnološkoj pripremi da se može prirediti brže nego što se to radi na uobičajen, tradicionalan način [instant kava; instant palenta] 2. iron. pejor. onaj… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • instant — in‧stant [ˈɪnstənt] adjective happening or available immediately: • We do not expect instant profits. • The agreement will offer subscribers instant access to overseas databases. * * * instant UK US /ˈɪnstənt/ adjective ► happening immediately,… …   Financial and business terms

  • Instant — ist ein Begriff bei Lebensmitteln, der Fertigprodukte bezeichnet. Wortherkunft Der Begriff instant [ɪnstənt], der im Deutschen ‚sofort‘ bedeutet, ist ein Lehnwort aus der englischen Sprache. Er kommt ursprünglich aus dem Latein, und findet sich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • instant — [in′stənt] adj. [LME < MFr < L instans, prp. of instare, to stand upon or near, press < in , in, upon + stare, to STAND] 1. urgent; pressing 2. soon to happen; imminent 3. without delay; immediate [to demand instant obedience] 4.… …   English World dictionary

  • instant — INSTÁNT adj. invar. Instantaneu, rapid. ♦ (Despre mâncăruri sau băuturi) Care se prepară repede, fără fierbere, prin dizolvare. [pr.: stánt] – cuv. engl. Trimis de valeriu, 21.07.2003. Sursa: DEX 98  instánt adj. m., pl. instánţi …   Dicționar Român

  • Instant- — Präfixoid sofort gebrauchsfähig erw. fach. ( ) Beschreibung von Affixen. Bildungen der Werbesprache nach dem Vorbild von ne. instant coffee sofort löslicher, sofort gebrauchsfähiger Kaffee . ne. instant stammt über mfrz. instant aus l. īnstāns… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”