/'kwɪkən; `kwɪkən/
v [I, Tn]
1 (cause sth to) become quicker （使某事物）加快, 变快
*His pace quickened. 他的步伐加快了.
* We quickened our steps. 我们加快了脚步.
2 (fml 文) (cause sth to) become more active （使某事物）变得更活跃, 更加活泼
*The child quickened in her womb, ie She felt the movements of the foetus. 她感到了胎动.
* Her pulse quickened. 她的脉搏加快了.
* His interest was quickened by an article he had read. 他读了一篇文章便兴趣大增了.

v [I and T]
written to become quicker or make something quicker
　Ray glanced at his watch and quickened his pace (=began to walk faster) .
　Companies are finding it hard to cope with the quickening pace of technological change.
your heart/pulse/breathing quickens
(=your heart beats faster because you are afraid, excited etc)
　She caught sight of Rob and felt her heart quicken.
formal if a feeling quickens, or if something quickens it, it becomes stronger or more active
= increase
　This policy served only to quicken anti-government feeling.