acceleration

[ ak-sel-uh-rey-shuh n ]
/ ækˌsɛl əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

the act of accelerating; increase of speed or velocity.
a change in velocity.
Mechanics. the time rate of change of velocity with respect to magnitude or direction; the derivative of velocity with respect to time.

Origin of acceleration

First recorded in 1525–35, acceleration is from the Latin word accelerātiōn- (stem of accelerātiō). See accelerate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM acceleration

non·ac·cel·er·a·tion, noun o·ver·ac·cel·er·a·tion, noun re·ac·cel·er·a·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for acceleration

British Dictionary definitions for acceleration

acceleration
/ (ækˌsɛləˈreɪʃən) /

noun

the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated
the rate of increase of speed or the rate of change of velocity Symbol: a
the power to accelerate Symbol: a

Scientific definitions for acceleration

acceleration
[ ăk-sĕl′ə-rāshən ]

The rate of change of the velocity of a moving body. An increase in the magnitude of the velocity of a moving body (an increase in speed) is called a positive acceleration; a decrease in speed is called a negative acceleration. Acceleration, like velocity, is a vector quantity, so any change in the direction of a moving body is also an acceleration. A moving body that follows a curved path, even when its speed remains constant, is undergoing acceleration. See more at gravity relativity.

Cultural definitions for acceleration

acceleration

A change in the velocity of an object.

notes for acceleration

The most familiar kind of acceleration is a change in the speed of an object. An object that stays at the same speed but changes direction, however, is also being accelerated. ( See force.)