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

This partnership makes the Grok models (most notably Grok 3) available for training and inference to a data-centric customer base that can leverage Nvidia or AMD accelerators for training and inference. —Matt Kimball, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Another surprising point made by Pryor: empathy is an awkwardness accelerator. —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025

Tesla has announced eight voluntary recalls of the Cybertruck in 15 months due to a range of issues including software bugs and sticking accelerator pedals. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025

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

Rhymes for accelerator

• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator
• attenuator
• bronchodilator
• collaborator
• communicator
• conciliator
• cooperator
• coordinator

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)