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Definition of acceleration noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

acceleration

noun
 
/əkˌseləˈreɪʃn/
 
/əkˌseləˈreɪʃn/
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  1. [uncountable, singular] acceleration (in something) an increase in how fast something happens
    • an acceleration in the rate of economic growth
    Extra Examples
    • There has been a rapid acceleration in the growth of industry.
    • the acceleration of global warming
    Topics Change, cause and effectc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • rapid
    • sudden
    • gradual
    • …
    preposition
    • acceleration in
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] the rate at which a vehicle increases speed
    • a car with good acceleration
    • acceleration from 0–60 mph in 11.2 seconds
    • This model has the best acceleration of any available sports car.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • fast
    • good
    • poor
    • …
    See full entry
  3. [uncountable] (physics) the rate at which the velocity (= speed in a particular direction) of an object changes
    • acceleration caused by gravity
    Topics Physics and chemistryc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • rapid
    • sudden
    • gradual
    • …
    preposition
    • acceleration in
    See full entry
    4. Word Originlate 15th cent.: from Latin acceleratio(n-), from accelerare ‘hasten’, from ad- ‘towards’ + celer ‘swift’.
See acceleration in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee acceleration in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: acceleration

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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