Definition of "accelerate"

accelerate

/ək.ˈsɛl.ə.ˌɹeɪt/

verb
third-person singular simple present accelerates, present participle accelerating, simple past and past participle accelerated
1. (transitive) To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of.
2. (transitive) To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of.
  Quotations
  Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.
  2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist
3. (transitive, physics) To cause a change of velocity.
4. (transitive) To hasten, as the occurrence of an event.
5. (transitive, education) To enable a student to finish a course of study in less than normal time.
6. (intransitive) To become faster; to begin to move more quickly.
7. (intransitive) Grow; increase.
adjective
not comparable
1. (archaic) Accelerated; quickened; hastened; hurried.
  Quotations
  ... a general knowledg of the definition of motion, and of the distinction of natural and violent, even and accelerate, and the like, sufficing.
  1662, Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, Dialogue 2