accelerator

[ ak-sel-uh-rey-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that accelerates.
2. Automotive. a device, usually operated by the foot, for controlling the speed of an engine.
3. British. any two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle, as a motorcycle or motor scooter.
4. Photography. a chemical, usually an alkali, added to a developer to increase the rate of development.
5. Also called accelerant. Chemistry. any substance that increases the speed of a chemical change, as one that increases the rate of vulcanization of rubber or that hastens the setting of concrete, mortar, plaster, or the like.
6. Anatomy, Physiology. any muscle, nerve, or activating substance that quickens a movement.
7. Also called at·om smash·er [at, -, uh, m smash-er],. Physics. an electrostatic or electromagnetic device, as a cyclotron, that produces high-energy particles and focuses them on a target.
8. Economics. acceleration coefficient.
9. Business. an enterprise that provides investment funding and short, fixed-duration mentoring and education programs to a select group of startups that apply for this, including access to networking, strategy coaching, collaborative workspace, etc. Compare incubator ( def 5 ).

accelerator

/ ækˈsɛləˌreɪtə /

noun

1. a device for increasing speed, esp a pedal for controlling the fuel intake in a motor vehicle; throttle
2. Also called (not in technical usage)atom smasher physics a machine for increasing the kinetic energy of subatomic particles or atomic nuclei and focusing them on a target
3. chem a substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction, esp one that increases the rate of vulcanization of rubber, the rate of development in photography, the rate of setting of synthetic resins, or the rate of setting of concrete; catalyst
4. economics (in an economy) the relationship between the rate of change in output or sales and the consequent change in the level of investment
5. anatomy a muscle or nerve that increases the rate of a function

Word History and Origins

Origin of accelerator¹

First recorded in 1605–15 and in 1930–35 accelerator fordef 7; accelerate + -or ²

Example Sentences

The Sri Lanka captain hit five boundaries but the run rate was never too scary, and once Athapaththu was bowled trying to step on the accelerator her side collapsed somewhat.

From BBC

A second recall announcement came in April that was due to a faulty accelerator pedal.

From Los Angeles Times

“My father, who just turned 90, made the typical old man mistake of hitting the accelerator instead of the brakes in his 1985 Cadillac,” Mike wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

At the end of August, it revealed plans for a “new homes accelerator”, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves has described as a “taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites” like Northstowe.

From BBC

The California News Publishers Assn. pushed back against the idea of Google paying $62 million into an “AI accelerator” program managed by a nonprofit “under terms to be defined by founders.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• particle accelerator