Accelerate

Pronunciation

• RP
• IPA: /É™k.ˈsÉ›l.É™.ËŒreɪt/, /æk.ˈsÉ›l.É™.ˌɹeɪt/, /ɪk.ˈsÉ›l.É™.ˌɹeɪt/

Origin

First attested in the 1520s. Either from Latin accelerātus, perfect passive participle of accelerō ("I accelerate, hasten"), formed from ad + celerō ("I hasten"), which is from celer ("quick") (see celerity), or Back-formation from {{3}}.

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Full definition of accelerate

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of.
2. (transitive) To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of.
   to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.
• 2013, Michael Sivak, Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?, Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.
3. (transitive, physics) To cause a change of velocity.
4. (transitive) To hasten, as the occurrence of an event.
   to accelerate our departure''
5. (transitive, education) To enable a student to finish a course of study in less than normal time.
6. (intransitive) To become faster; to begin to move more quickly.
7. (intransitive) Grow; increase.
8. (obsolete) Alternative form of accelerated

Synonyms

• advance
• dispatch
• expedite
• forward
• further
• hasten
• quicken
• speed up

Antonyms

• decelerate
• retard

Derived terms

• accelerative
• accelerator
• accelerated motion
• accelerating force

Related terms

• accelerando
• accelerant
• acceleration
• accelerograph
• accelerometer

Adjective

1. (rare) Accelerated; quickened; hastened; hurried.
• 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Dialogue 2:... a general knowledg of the definition of motion, and of the distinction of natural and violent, even and accelerate, and the like, sufficing.