noun
accelerator
uhk-SEHL-uh-ray-t
noun
1
The pedal in a vehicle that controls speed.
"She pressed down on the accelerator to merge onto the highway."
2
A program that provides funding, mentoring, and resources to help new companies grow quickly.
"The startup joined a three-month accelerator to refine its pitch."
3
A device or piece of equipment that speeds up a process, such as a particle accelerator.
"Scientists used a particle accelerator to study subatomic collisions."
How to Use Accelerator
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: the gas pedal in a car, a program that fast-tracks startups, or equipment that speeds up a physical or chemical process.
Common pairings
press the accelerator
startup accelerator
particle accelerator
Word Forms
accelerators plural
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Etymology
From accelerate plus the agent suffix -or, "thing that does."