1. Something that increases speed or rate of a process
   "The business incubator was an accelerator for startup growth"
    
2. A pedal that regulates engine speed of a vehicle
   "he stepped on the accelerator";
   - accelerator pedal, gas pedal [N. Amer], gas [N. Amer], throttle
    
3. A valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine
   "The mechanic adjusted the accelerator valve to improve fuel efficiency";
   - throttle, throttle valve
    
4. A scientific instrument that increases the kinetic energy of charged particles
   "The Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator";
   - particle accelerator, atom smasher [informal]
    
5. (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
   "Platinum is often used as an accelerator in industrial processes";
   - catalyst

Derived forms: accelerators

Type of: activator, foot lever, foot pedal, pedal, scientific instrument, treadle, valve

Antonym: anticatalyst

Part of: aeroplane [Brit], airplane [N. Amer], auto [informal], autocar [archaic], automobile [N. Amer], car, fuel system, motor [Brit, informal], motorcar, plane, wheel [informal], whip [US, informal]

Encyclopedia: Accelerator