accelerator
UK: əkˈseləreɪtə | US: əkˈseləreɪtər
n. a device that controls the speed of a vehicle by regulating fuel flow
n. (Physics) a machine that increases the velocity of charged particles
n. (Chemistry) a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction
The word "accelerator" originates from Latin accelerare ("to hasten"), combining ad- (toward) + celer (swift). The morpheme ac- (from ad-) implies direction, while celer (Latin for "fast") forms the core meaning. The suffix -ator (agent noun) indicates a device or person performing the action. The term evolved from general "speed-increasing" concepts to specialized meanings in physics and chemistry.
She pressed the accelerator to merge onto the highway.
The particle accelerator at CERN is the world’s largest.
This chemical acts as a catalyst and accelerator in the reaction.
The car’s accelerator was stuck, causing it to speed uncontrollably.
Researchers use accelerators to study subatomic particles.