First Known Use: 1899
Dictionary
decelerate
verb de·cel·er·ate \(ˌ)dē-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt\
: to move slower : to lose speed
: to cause (something) to happen more slowly
de·cel·er·at·edde·cel·er·at·ing
Full Definition of DECELERATE
transitive verb
1
: to reduce the speed of : slow down <decelerate a car>
2
: to decrease the rate of progress of <decelerate growth> <decelerate soil erosion>
intransitive verb
: to move at decreasing speed
— de·cel·er·a·tion \(ˌ)dē-ˌse-lə-ˈrā-shən\ noun
— de·cel·er·a·tor \(ˌ)dē-ˈse-lə-rā-tər\ noun
See decelerate defined for English-language learners
See decelerate defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DECELERATE
de- + accelerate
Related to DECELERATE
Rhymes with DECELERATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, 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, 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
DECELERATE Defined for Kids
decelerate
verb de·cel·er·ate \dē-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt\
de·cel·er·at·edde·cel·er·at·ing
Definition of DECELERATE for Kids
: to slow down <The car decelerated at the yellow light.>
Medical Dictionary
decelerate
verb de·cel·er·ate \(ˈ)dē-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt\
de·cel·er·at·edde·cel·er·at·ing
Medical Definition of DECELERATE
transitive verb
: to reduce the speed of : slow down
intransitive verb
: to move at decreasing speed
—de·cel·er·a·tion \(ˌ)dē-ˌsel-ə-ˈrā-shən\ noun
Learn More About DECELERATE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: deceleration lanePrevious Word in the Dictionary: deceiveAll Words Near: decelerate
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up decelerate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).