accelerator (n.)

1610s, "a hastener," from Latin accelerator, agent noun from accelerare "to hasten; make haste" (see accelerate). Motor vehicle sense of "pedal which operates the throttle and thus modulates engine speed" is from 1900; particle physics sense is from 1931.

Entries linking to accelerator

accelerate (v.)

1520s, "hasten the occurrence of;" 1590s, "make quicker" (implied in accelerating), from Latin acceleratus, past participle of accelerare "to hasten, quicken" (trans.), "make haste" (intrans.), from ad "to" (see ad-) + celerare "hasten," from celer "swift," which is perhaps from PIE *keli- "speeding" (see celerity). Intransitive sense of "go faster, become faster" in English is from 1640s. Related: Accelerated; accelerative.

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updated on August 12, 2018

Definitions of accelerator from WordNet

accelerator (n.)

a pedal that controls the throttle valve;

Synonyms: accelerator pedal / gas pedal / gas / throttle / gun

accelerator (n.)

a valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine;

Synonyms: throttle / throttle valve

accelerator (n.)

(chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected;

Synonyms: catalyst

accelerator (n.)

a scientific instrument that increases the kinetic energy of charged particles;

Synonyms: particle accelerator / atom smasher

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near accelerator

accede

accelerando

accelerant

accelerate

acceleration

accelerator

accent

accentual

accentuate

accentuation