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accelerate

Pronunciation: /əkˈsɛləreɪt/

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Definition of accelerate

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

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.

Spelling tip

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

accelerate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of accelerate in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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