1. devices or mechanisms that increase speed or rate of progress
2. pedals in vehicles that control engine speed and acceleration
3. machines that speed up charged particles to high energies for scientific research
Usage: physics; scientific

Examples

• The startup accelerators helped new companies grow rapidly.
• She pressed both accelerators to speed up on the highway.
• The laboratory’s particle accelerators enable groundbreaking physics research.
• Chemical accelerators are added to speed up the curing process.
• The business accelerators provided funding and mentorship to entrepreneurs.
• Modern cars have electronic accelerators instead of mechanical cables.
• Scientists use linear accelerators to study subatomic particles.