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 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- accelerators
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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."
Synonyms
View more →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.
