# accelerator

> English word · Noun · IPA /əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/ · frequency rank #16,630

## Definitions
1. One who, or that which, accelerates.
2. A device for causing acceleration.
3. A substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
4. A pedal causing the vehicle to accelerate when it is pressed.
5. A chemical that reduces development time.
6. A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles; a particle accelerator.
7. A muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action.
8. An accelerator key.
9. A computer component using dedicated hardware to accelerate the processing and display of graphics.
10. A light van to take mails between a post office and a railway station.
11. A mentoring program for startup companies.

## Etymology
* First attested in 1611.
* (motor vehicle): First attested in 1900.
* accelerate + -or

## Easily confused with
- **accelerate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accelerate-vs-accelerator)
- **accelerated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accelerated-vs-accelerator)
- **acceleration** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acceleration-vs-accelerator)

## Common misspellings (14)
`acceelrator`, `acceleartor`, `acceleraotr`, `acceleratorr`, `acceleratro`, `accelerattor`, `accelerrator`, `accelertaor`, `accellerator`, `accelreator`, `accleerator`, `aceclerator`, `acelerator`, `cacelerator`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accelerator