v.
Pronunciation: -l ə - ˌ r ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -at · ed ; -at · ing
Etymology: Latin acceleratus, past participle of accelerare, from ad- + celer swift ― more at HOLD
Date: circa 1530
transitive verb
1 : to bring about at an earlier time < accelerate their departure>
2 : to cause to move faster < accelerated his steps> also : to cause to undergo acceleration
3 a : to hasten the progress or development of < accelerate our efforts> b : INCREASE < accelerate food production>
4 a : to enable (a student) to complete a course in less than usual time b : to speed up (as a course of study)
intransitive verb
1 a : to move faster : gain speed <the car slowly accelerated > b : GROW , INCREASE <inflation was accelerating >
2 : to follow an accelerated educational program
– ac · cel · er · at · ing · ly \ - ˌ r ā -ti ŋ -l ē \ adverb