acceleration
English meaning: Acceleration
Definition
The rate at which the speed or direction of a moving object changes over time.
Example
“The sports car is famous for its rapid acceleration from zero to a hundred kilometres an hour.”
Another example: “The sports car is famous for its breathtaking acceleration from a standing start.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An uncountable/countable noun in physics (the rate of change of velocity) and everyday use (the car's acceleration). The opposite is 'deceleration'. Used attributively (acceleration phase).
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'acceleratio', from 'accelerare' (to hasten), from 'ad-' plus 'celer' (swift).
Synonyms
- quickening
- speeding up
- speedup
Antonyms / Opposites
- deceleration
- slowing
Related Words
- deceleration
- centripetal
- inertial
- gravity
- centrifugal
- velocity
- jerk
- gravitational
- inertia
- accelerating
- accelerator
- throttle
Common Collocations
- rapid acceleration
- constant acceleration
- acceleration due to gravity
- sudden acceleration
- rate of acceleration
- car's acceleration
Word Forms
acceleration (n); accelerate (v); accelerated; accelerating
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B