four-speed noun3 •[before a noun] Having four forward speeds.My car has a four-speed transmission. It is not as efficient as my daughter's five-speed. •A transmission that has four forward speeds (it might or might not be a manual transmission); (metonymic) a vehicle with such a transmission. •(informal, historical) A manual transmission with four forward speeds; (metonymic) a vehicle with such a transmission.A: Was your dad's Mustang a four-speed? B: No, it was an automatic. formsfour-speeds