ACCEL'ERATE, v.t. [L. accelero, of ad and celero, to hasten, from celer, quick.
1. To cause to move faster; to hasten; to quicken motion; to add to the velocity of a moving body. It implies previous motion or progression.2. To add to natural or ordinary progression; as to accelerate the growth of a plant, or the progress of knowledge.3. To bring nearer in time; to shorten the time between the present time and a future event; as to accelerate the ruin of a government; to accelerate a battle.