Main Entry: ac·cel·er·ate

Pronunciation: \-lə-ˌrāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): ac·cel·er·at·ed; ac·cel·er·at·ing

Etymology: Latin acceleratus, past participle of accelerare, from ad- + celer swift — more at hold

Date: circa 1530

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 a : to move faster : gain speed <the car slowly accelerated> b : grow, increase <inflation was accelerating>
2 : to follow an accelerated educational program

— ac·cel·er·at·ing·ly \-ˌrā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb