Finesentence logo

Deceleration: meaning, definitions and examples

🛑
Add to dictionary

deceleration

 

[ ˌdiːsɛləˈreɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

physics, motion

Deceleration refers to the process of slowing down or decreasing in speed. It represents the rate at which an object reduces its velocity over time. In physics, it is typically defined as negative acceleration, meaning that the change in velocity is in the opposite direction of the object's motion. Deceleration can occur in various contexts, such as vehicles applying brakes or objects falling as they encounter air resistance.

Synonyms

braking, reduction of speed, slowdown

Examples of usage

  • The car experienced rapid deceleration when the driver hit the brakes.
  • Deceleration in free fall can be caused by air drag.
  • The pilot calculated the necessary deceleration for a safe landing.

Translations

Translations of the word "deceleration" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desaceleração

🇮🇳 विकर्षण

🇩🇪 Abbremsung

🇮🇩 perlambatan

🇺🇦 гальмування

🇵🇱 deceleracja

🇯🇵 減速

🇫🇷 décélération

🇪🇸 deceleración

🇹🇷 yavaşlama

🇰🇷 감속

🇸🇦 تباطؤ

🇨🇿 zpomalení

🇸🇰 spomalenie

🇨🇳 减速

🇸🇮 upočasnitev

🇮🇸 hæging

🇰🇿 тежелдеу

🇬🇪 დაბრუნება

🇦🇿 yavaşlama

🇲🇽 desaceleración

Etymology

The word 'deceleration' is derived from the Latin word 'decelerare', which means 'to slow down'. The prefix 'de-' implies a removal or reduction, while 'celerare' comes from 'celer', meaning 'swift' or 'fast'. The term began to be used in English in the late 19th century, particularly in scientific contexts related to physics and engineering. As technological advancements progressed, the concept of deceleration became increasingly relevant in fields such as automotive engineering and aviation, where understanding the dynamics of speed and movement became crucial. Today, 'deceleration' is commonly used in everyday language when discussing the slowing down of objects or vehicles.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,267, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.