What does "accelerator" mean?
One who, or that which, accelerates.
Accelerator
/əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who, or that which, accelerates.
- Grammar: accelerator is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: atom smasher, gas pedal, particle accelerator, throttle.
- Useful contrasts: brake, brakes, dawdler.
- Usage evidence: Have you ever got in your car after a long absence and got the brake mixed up with the accelerator?
How to use "accelerator"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "accelerator" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "accelerator" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "accelerator" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "accelerator" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "accelerator" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "atom smasher" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "accelerator", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who, or that which, accelerates.
"The Second World War is said to have been a great accelerator for many scientific findings."
- 2 a valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine wordnet
- 3 A device for causing acceleration.
- 4 a scientific instrument that increases the kinetic energy of charged particles wordnet
- 5 A substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 a pedal that controls the throttle valve wordnet
- 7 A pedal causing the vehicle to accelerate when it is pressed.
"As soon as you get onto the slipway, push the accelerator."
- 8 (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected wordnet
- 9 A chemical that reduces development time.
- 10 A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles; a particle accelerator.
- 11 A muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action.
- 12 An accelerator key.
"If they had allowed single-character accelerators, Windows wouldn't be able to determine whether the character was input or a shortcut."
- 13 A computer component using dedicated hardware to accelerate the processing and display of graphics.
- 14 A light van to take mails between a post office and a railway station. historical
- 15 A mentoring program for startup companies.
"In the nineties, before the accelerator era, startups were usually launched by mid-career engineers or repeat entrepreneurs, who sought millions in venture capital and then labored in secret on something complicated that took years to launch."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Have you ever got in your car after a long absence and got the brake mixed up with the accelerator?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "accelerator"?
Common synonyms include: atom smasher, gas pedal, particle accelerator, throttle, gas, accelerator pedal.
How do you use "accelerator" in a sentence?
Have you ever got in your car after a long absence and got the brake mixed up with the accelerator?
How do you pronounce "accelerator"?
Pronounced /əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/.
Etymology
* First attested in 1611. * (motor vehicle): First attested in 1900. * accelerate + -or