Etymology First attested in the 1520s. Either from Latin accelerātus, perfect passive participle of accelerō (“to accelerate, hasten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), formed from ad + celerō (“to hasten”), which is from celer (“quick”) (see celerity), or back-formation from acceleration.
To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of.
2
To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of.
to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.
The company plans to accelerate its growth with new marketing strategies.
2 more examples
She had to accelerate her work pace to meet the deadline.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist:
3
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics To cause a change of velocity.
4
To hasten, as the occurrence of an event.
to accelerate our departure
5
Education To enable a student to finish a course of study in less than normal time.
6
To become faster; to begin to move more quickly.
The car began to accelerate as soon as the light turned green.
Etymology First attested in the 1520s. Either from Latin accelerātus, perfect passive participle of accelerō (“to accelerate, hasten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), formed from ad + celerō (“to hasten”), which is from celer (“quick”) (see celerity), or back-formation from acceleration.
... a general knowledg of the definition of motion, and of the distinction of natural and violent, even and accelerate, and the like, sufficing.1662, Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Dialogue 2: