First Known Use: circa 1530
Dictionary
accelerate
verb ac·cel·er·ate \-lə-ˌrāt\
: to move faster : to gain speed
: to cause (something) to happen sooner or more quickly
ac·cel·er·at·edac·cel·er·at·ing
Full Definition of ACCELERATE
transitive verb
1
: to bring about at an earlier time <accelerate their departure>
2
: to cause to move faster <accelerated his steps>; also : to cause to undergo acceleration
3
a : to hasten the progress or development of <accelerate our efforts> b : increase <accelerate food production>
4
a : to enable (a student) to complete a course in less than usual time b : to speed up (as a course of study)
intransitive verb
1
See accelerate defined for English-language learners
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Origin of ACCELERATE
Latin acceleratus, past participle of accelerare, from ad- + celer swift — more at hold
Related to ACCELERATE
Rhymes with ACCELERATE
abbreviate, abominate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
ACCELERATE Defined for Kids
accelerate
verb ac·cel·er·ate \ak-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt\
ac·cel·er·at·edac·cel·er·at·ing
Definition of ACCELERATE for Kids
1
: to move or cause to move faster <The car accelerated going downhill.>
2
: to cause to happen more quickly <Using plant food accelerates growth.>
Medical Dictionary
accelerate
verb ac·cel·er·ate \ik-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt, ak-\
ac·cel·er·at·edac·cel·er·at·ing
Medical Definition of ACCELERATE
transitive verb
: to cause to move faster or speed up <accelerated speech and motor activity in manic patients>; also : to cause to undergo acceleration
intransitive verb
: to move faster : gain speed
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