accelerator Hear it!

accelerator definition

ac·cel·era·tor (ak sel′ər āt′ər, -ə rāt′-; ək-)

noun

  1. a person or thing that accelerates or increases the speed of something; specif.,
    1. a device, such as the foot throttle of an automobile, for increasing the speed of a machine
    2. a nerve or muscle that speeds up a body function
  2. Chem. a substance that speeds up a reaction
  3. Nuclear Physics a betatron, cyclotron, synchrotron, linear accelerator, or similar apparatus that accelerates charged particles to high energies: accelerators are used for experimental purposes
  4. Photog. a chemical that speeds up developing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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