1. To cause anything in motion or process to speed up or to move faster: To avoid being hit by the truck from behind, Mark had to accelerate his car.

Lamont is sure that cutting taxes will help to accelerate economic growth in the country.

2. To make the accomplishment of something take place sooner: Martin had to accelerate his university studies in order to be ready for his final exams.
3. To cause to happen sooner; hasten: Resting often accelerates a person's recovery from an illness.
4. Etymology: from Latin ad-, "to" + celerare, "to hasten, to make happen faster"; which came from celer, "quick". © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

1. A reference to something that is moved increasingly faster, or which causes something to move faster.
2. A descriptive term for something that has happened or developed faster, or that which was pushed to happen or to develop faster.

A rapid ventricular rhythm, approximately 60 to 110 beats per minute: Accelerated idioventricular rhythm usually results from premature beats or an escape rhythm generated by the slowing of the sinus pacemaker or acceleration of a ventricular pacemaker.