acceleration

Pronunciation: /əkˌsɛl.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an increase in rate of change
  2. noun the act of accelerating; increasing the speed
  3. noun (physics) a rate of increase of velocity

Etymology

First attested in 1531. From French accélération or more likely directly from Latin accelerātiō (“a hastening, acceleration”). Equivalent to accelerate + -ion.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
change
Narrower (hyponyms)
precipitation, pickup
Opposite (antonyms)
deceleration

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