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Accelerator Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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accelerator

[ษ™kหˆselษ™หŒreษชtษ™r ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

technology

A device, typically a pedal, lever, or button, that controls the speed of a vehicle or machine.

Synonyms

gas, gas pedal, speed control, throttle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
accelerator

Mainly used in British English to describe the pedal in a car that increases speed.

  • Press the accelerator gently to start moving
throttle

Often used to describe a mechanism that controls the flow of fuel or power to an engine, not just in cars but also in other machinery or vehicles like motorcycles and airplanes.

  • He twisted the throttle grip to accelerate the motorcycle
gas pedal

Common in American English to describe the pedal in a car that you press to go faster.

  • He pushed the gas pedal to the floor and the car sped off
gas

This term is widely used in American English to refer to the fuel that cars use.

  • We need to stop and get some gas before we run out
speed control

This term can refer to features in a car that help maintain a constant speed, often synonymous with 'cruise control'.

  • Engage the speed control to maintain a steady pace on the highway

Examples of usage

  • He pressed down on the accelerator to speed up the car.
  • The accelerator on the machine is used to increase the production rate.
Context #2 | Noun

physics

A subatomic particle that increases the velocity of a reaction.

Synonyms

collider, particle accelerator.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
accelerator

Used in general language to refer to something that increases speed or progress, often in technology or business.

  • The new software acts as an accelerator for our development process.
  • They joined a startup accelerator to help grow their company.
particle accelerator

A specialized term used in physics to describe a device that speeds up particles to high velocities, often in experimental research.

  • The particle accelerator was used in the experiment to observe subatomic particles.
  • Many discoveries in physics were made possible thanks to the particle accelerator.
collider

Specifically used in the context of physics and particle science to describe a machine designed to make particles collide at high speeds.

  • The Large Hadron Collider is one of the most famous particle colliders in the world.
  • Scientists use the collider to study particle interactions.

Examples of usage

  • The accelerator in the experiment was crucial for achieving the desired results.
  • The particle accelerator was used to study the behavior of atoms.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • In particle physics, an accelerator is a machine that speeds up charged particles to collide them at high energies for research.
  • The Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, helped discover the Higgs boson in 2012, a fundamental particle in physics.
  • Medical accelerators are used in cancer treatment to precisely direct radiation therapy to tumors, showcasing the term's application beyond vehicles.

Technology

  • In computer science, an accelerator refers to hardware or software that enhances the performance of a computer by speeding up processing time.
  • Graphics processing units (GPUs) are often used as accelerators for rendering video and complex graphical tasks much faster than standard CPUs.
  • The rise of machine learning has led to the development of various accelerators specifically designed to process data for AI applications efficiently.

Cultural References

  • In popular culture, movies about racing often highlight the thrill of speed, with characters pressing the accelerator to win races.
  • Video games focused on car racing typically feature accelerators as crucial elements that determine players' success and strategy.
  • Songs and music often use 'accelerator' as a metaphor for speeding up life or getting pumped up for challenges.

Education

  • Educators refer to 'accelerators' in programs that speed up learning for gifted students, allowing them to advance faster than their peers.
  • Some universities have 'accelerator programs' that help startups grow quickly by providing resources and mentorship.
  • In language learning, an 'accelerated curriculum' involves quick-paced learning to achieve fluency in a shorter period.

Origin of 'accelerator'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'accelerator' comes from the Latin root 'accelerare', which means 'to hasten' or 'to quicken'.
  • The first recorded use of 'accelerator' in English dates back to the early 19th century, originally referring to machinery that increased speed.
  • In the 20th century, the term became commonly associated with automobiles, referring specifically to the pedal that controls acceleration.

The word 'accelerator' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the Latin word 'accelerare', meaning 'to quicken'. The term was initially used in the context of physics to describe a device that increases the velocity of particles or reactions. Over time, the term expanded to also refer to the device that controls the speed of vehicles. Today, 'accelerator' is commonly associated with speed, progress, and advancement in various fields.

See also: accelerate, acceleration.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,157, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.