What does "accelerator" mean?

One who, or that which, accelerates.

How do you pronounce "accelerator"?

Pronounced //əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ//.

Common synonyms include: atom smasher, atom smasher, gas, gas pedal, particle accelerator, particle accelerator.

//əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ// noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

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."