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noun Uncommon

accelerator

uhk-SEHL-uh-ray-t

Accelerator (noun) means the pedal in a vehicle that controls speed. Example: “She pressed down on the accelerator to merge onto the highway.”

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 notes

In 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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Fill the Gap

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She pressed down on the _____ to merge onto the highway.

Etymology

From accelerate plus the agent suffix -or, "thing that does."

Related Words

Rhymes for accelerator

See all rhymes for accelerator →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “accelerator” mean?

The word “accelerator” means the pedal in a vehicle that controls speed. In plain terms, depending on context: the gas pedal in a car, a program that fast-tracks startups, or equipment that speeds up a physical or chemical process.

How do you pronounce “accelerator”?

“Accelerator” is pronounced uhk-SEHL-uh-ray-t (/əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “accelerator” in a sentence?

Here is “accelerator” used in a sentence: “She pressed down on the accelerator to merge onto the highway.”

What is another word for “accelerator”?

Words with a similar meaning to “accelerator” include gas pedal, gas, throttle, go pedal, particle accelerator and atom smasher.

What part of speech is “accelerator”?

“Accelerator” is a noun.

Is “accelerator” a common word?

“Accelerator” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “accelerator” have?

“Accelerator” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the pedal in a vehicle that controls speed.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial