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 verb1: to bring about at an earlier time <accelerate their departure>2: to cause to move faster <accelerated his steps> ; also : to cause to undergo acceleration3 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 verb1 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