accelerator

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tor ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrā-tər 

ak-

plural accelerators

: one that accelerates: such as

a

: a muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action

b

: a device (such as a gas pedal) for increasing the speed of a motor vehicle engine

c

: a substance that speeds a chemical reaction

d

: an apparatus for imparting high velocities to charged particles (such as electrons)

e

: an item of computer hardware that increases the speed at which a program or function operates

a graphics accelerator

Examples of accelerator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know: • Ease off the accelerator — Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024

Getting ambitious with the accelerator also occasionally induced noticeable torque steer on uneven surfaces. —Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024

For the uninitiated, Demo Day is the culmination of YC’s twice-a-year accelerator program, where founders pitch to investors. —Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Join industry-specific associations, accelerators, networking events and conferences. —Angela Quach, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Qualcomm introduced a new generation of the accelerator chip the Cloud AI 100 Ultra late last year, and its first results showed up in the edge and data center performance benchmarks above. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2024

The Bulldogs cut it to five, and the Aztecs stepped on the accelerator for an 11-0 run. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

What began in 2010 as an idea backed by a seed accelerator — Silicon Valley speak for an incubator program — quickly became a juggernaut that gobbled up many of its competitors. —Nikita Richardson, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024

So far around 200 companies have taken part in 1991’s accelerator and incubator programs across 20 cohorts. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

accelerate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accelerator

• accelerator mass spectrometry
• linear accelerator
• particle accelerator

Kids Definition

accelerator

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tor ik-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

ak-

1

: one that accelerates

2

: a device (as a pedal) in a motor vehicle used to control the speed of the motor

3

: a device that is used to give high velocities to charged particles (as electrons and protons)

Medical Definition

accelerator

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tor ik-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt-ər, ak- 

: one that accelerates: as

a

: a muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action

a cardiac accelerator

b

: a substance that speeds a chemical reaction

c

: an apparatus for imparting high velocities to charged particles (as electrons)