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| v. ac·cel·er·at·ed, ac·cel·er·at·ing, ac·cel·er·ates v. tr. 1. b. Physics To change the velocity of. 2. To cause to occur sooner than expected: accelerated his retirement by a year. 3. To cause to develop or progress more quickly: a substance used to accelerate a fire. 4. a. To reduce the time required for (an academic course, for example); compress into a shorter period. b. To make it possible for (a student) to finish an academic course faster than usual. v. intr. 1. To move or act faster. 2. Physics To undergo a change in velocity. [Latin accelerāre, accelerāt- : ad-, intensive pref.; see AD– + celerāre, to quicken (from celer, swift).] ac·celer·a′tive adj. ac·celer·a·to′ry (-ər-ə-tôr′ē) adj. |
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