Accelerate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accelerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Accelerating.]
Etymology: [L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad + celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity.]
1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of; -- opposed to retard.
2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.
3. To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our departure. Accelerated motion (Mech.), motion with a continually increasing velocity. -- Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion. Nichol.
Syn. -- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance; further.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for accelerate; he lists it under quicken.
Where he writes about it:
To accelerate is to increase the speed of action or of motion. — from quicken
To accelerate any work is to hasten it toward a finish, commonly by quickening all its operations in orderly unity toward the result. — from quicken
A good general will improve roads to facilitate the movements of troops, hasten supplies and perfect discipline to promote the general efficiency of the force, despatch details of business, expedite all preparations, in order to accelerate the advance and victory of his army. — from quicken