accelerate

 
Pronunciation: /əkˈsɛləreɪt/

verb

[no object]
  • (especially of a vehicle) begin to move more quickly: the car accelerated towards her
  • increase in rate, amount, or extent: inflation started to accelerate [with object]: the key question is whether stress accelerates ageing
  • Physics undergo a change in velocity: (as adjective accelerating) an accelerating electron radiates off some of its energy

Derivatives

accelerative

adjective

Origin:

early 16th century (in the sense 'hasten the occurrence of'): from Latin accelerat- 'hastened', from the verb accelerare, from ad- 'towards' + celer 'swift'

Spelling help

Spell accelerate and the related words acceleration and accelerator with a double c and one l.

I accelerated past the car, the cab, and the lorry.