WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ac*cel"er*ate
Part of Speech : v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accelerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Accelerating.]
Etymology : [L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad + celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity.]
Definition : 1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of; -- opposed to retard.

2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.

3. To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our departure. Accelerated motion (Mech.), motion with a continually increasing velocity. -- Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion. Nichol.

Syn. -- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance; further.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913