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

The Boston City Council approved a $110 million housing accelerator fund filed by the mayor and aimed at spurring housing production for projects that have already been greenlighted, but lack the financing to begin construction. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2025

Looking at the year ahead, Toyota has aspirations of launching an accelerator program over the summer. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2025

The accelerator program provides budding entrepreneurs ages 18 to 35 with mentors and resources to scale projects focused on energy technologies and climate adaptation. —Sukanya S. Meher, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Jan. 2025

Teradyne anticipates that this could lead to meaningful opportunities for its system-level test solutions in the AI accelerators space. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 16 Jan. 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

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)