Acceleration

In physics, acceleration is defined as the rate of change (or time derivative) of velocity. It is thus a vector quantity with dimension length/time². In SI units this is meter/second².

To accelerate an object is to change its velocity over a period of time. Note that in this strict scientific sense, acceleration can have positive and negative values -- respectively called acceleration and deceleration (or retardation) in common speech -- as well as change of direction. Acceleration is defined technically as "the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time" and is given by the equation

where a is the acceleration vector, v is the velocity vector expressed in m/s, and t is time expressed in seconds. This equation gives a the units of m/s/s, or m/s² (read as "meters per second per second", or "meters per second squared").

An alternative equation is:

where a is acceleration (m/s²), u is initial velocity (m/s), v is final velocity (m/s), and t is time (s).

One common unit of acceleration is g, one g being the acceleration caused by the gravity of Earth at sea level on the equator (~9.81 m/s²)

In classical mechanics, acceleration a is related to force F and mass m by way of Newton's second law:

F = m a

(assuming that the mass is constant).

As a result of its invariance under the Galilean transformations, acceleration is an absolute quantity in classical mechanics.

After defining his theory of Special Relativity, Albert Einstein realized that forces felt by objects undergoing constant acceleration are indistinguishable from those in a gravitational field, and thus defined General Relativity (which also resolved how gravity's effects could be limited by the speed of light, but that is another story).

A key point of General Relativity is that it solved the "why does only one object feel accelerated?" problem which had plagued philosophers and scientists since Newton's time (and caused Newton to endorse absolute space). Simply put, if you hop in your car and accelerate away from your friend, you could say (given your frame of reference) that it is your friend who is accelerating away from you, although only you feel any force. This is also the basis for the popular Twin paradox, which asks why only one twin ages when moving away from his sibling at near light-speed and then returning, since the aging twin can say that it is the other twin that was moving.

In special relativity, only inertial frames (non-accelerated frames) can be used and are equivalent; general relativity considers all frames, even accelerated ones, to be equivalent. With changing velocity, accelerated objects exist in warped space (as do those that reside in a gravitational field). Therefore, frames of reference must include a description of their local spacetime curvature to qualify as complete.

The rate of change of acceleration is known as jerk or yank.

See also: equation of motion

Abbreviations & Acronyms: Acceleration

Synonyms within Context: Acceleration

Modern Usage: Acceleration

Commercial Usage: Acceleration

Image Slideshow: Acceleration

Use in Literature: Acceleration

Non-Fiction Usage: Acceleration

Subject	Topic	Quote
Health		It is often used to confirm the well-being of the fetus based on the principle that a healthy fetus will demonstrate an acceleration in its heart rate following movement. (references)
		These are called the otolithic organs and are responsible for detecting linear acceleration, or movement in a straight line. The hair cells of the otolithic organs are blanketed with a jelly-like layer studded with tiny calcium stones called otoconia. (references)
Business		Because of the importance of regions in Poland and the population demographics among the regions, regional wholesalers will continue to play an important role. However, with the acceleration of consolidation of national wholesalers, regional wholesalers are feeling threatened. (references)
		Both equipment and services grew at approximately a 6 percent rate. This market expansion was mostly due to a strong economic recovery in the industrial sector and to a 3.2 percent increase in French GNP. In spite of efforts to reduce waste at the source, many industrial sectors produced greater amounts of waste than in previous years due to an acceleration in production, which contributed to an increase in hazardous waste. (references)
Economic History	Chad	The recent acceleration of the Doba Basin oil project augurs a promising economic outlook for Chad. (references)
	Cyprus	On the other hand, total imports, spurred by higher oil prices and acceleration in private consumption, grew by 23.2 percent, reaching record levels. (references)
	Russia	The reform process is very much a work in progress, and hopes for an acceleration of the process under the Putin administration have been partially realized. (references)
Minorities	Mauritania	A number of accounts indicate that redistribution of southern farmland to Moors since the acceleration of desertification in the 1970's has contributed to tensions between Moors and southern-based ethnic groups. (references)
	Mauritania	The acceleration of desertification during the 1970's that destroyed much of the traditional economic basis of Moorish society, and an upsurge of Arab nationalism among White Moors during the 1980's, contributed to ethnic violence precipitated by a dispute with Senegal during 1989-91; this violence entailed the expulsion or flight of many non-Moors living in the south and occupation of much of their land by Moors, including Black Moors. (references)
Political Economy	SOUTH AFRICA	While poverty, inequality, unemployment, lack of skilled labor, corruption, increasing crime, and the acceleration in the incidence of HIV/AIDS remain significant sociopolitical problems, South Africa remains the largest and most developed country in Sub Saharan Africa. (references)
Trade	India	The new 5-year Export and Import for the period 1997-2002 aims at giving a major thrust to acceleration of India's exports through restructuring and revamping of various export promotion schemes and wide ranging measures for simplification and streamling of procedures with a view to making them more transparent and easy to administer. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Speeches: Acceleration

Usage Frequency: Acceleration

Expressions: Acceleration

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Acceleration

Modern Translations: Acceleration

Language		Translations for "acceleration"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Afrikaan		akselerasie. (various references)

Albanian		përshpejtim, nxitim (bustle, haste, hastiness, hurry, hustle, precipitance, precipitancy, precipitation, rapidity, rush). (various references)

Arabic		‏تسارع (accelerate), ‏تسريع (rev), ‏تعجيل (precipitation), ‏العجلة. (various references)

Bulgarian		ускорение (pickup, speed up). (various references)

Chinese		� 速度 (accelerations). (various references)

Czech		akcelerace, zrychlení (speedup), uspíšení. (various references)

Danish		acceleration (linear acceleration), hastighedsforøgelse, fremskyndelse. (various references)

Dutch		versnelling (gear, linear acceleration), acceleratie. (various references)

Esperanto		akcelo, akceliĝo, plirapidigo, plirapidiĝo. (various references)

Finnish		kiihtyvyys (linear acceleration). (various references)

French		accélération (accelerating, linear acceleration), avancement. (various references)

German		Beschleunigung (galileo, hastening, linear acceleration, pick up, precipitation, quickening, speeding up, speedup). (various references)

Greek		επιτάχυνση (accelerating, linear acceleration, pickup, speed up). (various references)

Hebrew		תאוצ�", �"חש�" (speeding), �"אצ�" (exhortation, hurrying, pressing, urging). (various references)

Hungarian		siettetés (quickening), gyorsulás (pickup, pick-up, speed-up), gyorsítás (intensification, quickening, speed up, speed-up). (various references)

Indonesian		akselerasi, perlajuan, percepatan. (various references)

Italian		accelerazione (accelerating, linear acceleration). (various references)

Japanese Kanji		促進 (encouragement, facilitation, promotion, spurring on). (various references)

Japanese Katakana		そくし�" (encouragement, facilitation, promotion, sounding, spurring on), まえ� おし, かそくど, かそく, �"うし�" (57th of the sexagenary cycle, accelerated, backward, constancy, correspondence, developing, exasperated, exasperation, favorite courtier, filial devotion, innovation, labia, lips, march, meritorious retainer, one's junior, parade, red lips, renewal, renovation, rise, rising, spiritism, spiritualism, steadiness, telecommunications, update), るいか (a spreading fire, catching fire, progressive increase, similar song). (various references)

Korean		가속도 (accelerations). (various references)

Manx		siyraghey (accelerate, bustling about, expedite, expedition, hasten, hastening, hurry, hurry along, hurry up, hustle), bieauaghey. (various references)

Pig Latin		accelerationay.(various references)

Portuguese		aceleração (accelerating, haste, linear acceleration, momentum, pickup, racing, speed up). (various references)

Romanian		accelerare (speed up, speeding), acceleraţie, iuţire, grãbire (quickening). (various references)

Russian		ускорение (accelerations, boost, jump, speed up, speedup). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian		akceleracija, ubrzanje (speed up, speedup). (various references)

Spanish		aceleración (accelerating, linear acceleration, pickup, quickness, speed up). (various references)

Swedish		acceleration (linear acceleration, pickup). (various references)

Turkish		süratlenme (speeding up), ivme, hızlanma (pickup, speed up). (various references)

Ukranian		акселерація, прискорення (precipitation, speed up). (various references)

Vietnamese		sự thúc mau, sự l� m nhanh thêm, sự giục gấp gia tốc. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Derivations & Misspellings: Acceleration

Rhyming with "Acceleration"

# of Phoneme Matches	Pronunciation	Word(s) rhyming with "acceleration" (pronounced a'kse'lerā"shun)
8	-s e' l er ā" sh u n	deceleration.
6	-l er ā" sh u n	coloration, declaration, discoloration, exhilaration, exploration, toleration.
5	-er ā" sh u n	aberration, admiration, adoration, agglomeration, alteration, amelioration, aspiration, cogeneration, collaboration, commemoration, confederation, configuration, conglomeration, consideration, cooperation, corporation, corroboration, decoration, degeneration, deliberation, desperation, elaboration, enumeration, evaporation, exaggeration, exasperation, exoneration, expiration, federation, figuration, generation, inauguration, incarceration, incorporation, inspiration, laceration, liberation, maturation, moderation, nonproliferation, operation, perforation, perspiration, preparation, proliferation, reconfiguration, reconsideration, recuperation, redecoration, refrigeration, regeneration, reincorporation, reinvigoration, reiteration, remuneration, reparation, respiration, restoration, reverberation, saturation, separation.
4	-ā" sh u n	abbreviation, abdication, abomination, abrogation, acclimation, accommodation, accreditation, accumulation, accusation, acidification, activation, adaptation, adjudication, administration, adulation, advocation, affectation, affiliation, affirmation, aggravation, agitation, alienation, allegation, alleviation, allocation, alphabetization, altercation, amalgamation, amortization, amplification, amputation, animation, annexation, annihilation, annotation, anticipation, antidiscrimination, appellation, application, appreciation, approbation, appropriation, approximation, arbitration, argumentation, articulation, assassination, assimilation, association, augmentation, authentication, authorization, automation, aviation, avocation, balkanization, bifurcation, calculation, calibration, cancellation, cannibalization, capitalization, capitulation, carnation, castration, categorization, causation, celebration, centralization, certification, cessation, cetacean, characterization, citation, civilization, clarification, classification, coagulation, codification, cogitation, cohabitation, collectivization, colonization, colorization, combination, commendation, commercialization, communication, communization, compensation, compilation, complication, computation, computerization, concatenation, concentration, conciliation, condemnation, condensation, confabulation, confirmation, confiscation, conflagration, confrontation, congratulation, congregation, conjugation, connotation, consecration, conservation, consolation, consolidation, constellation, consternation, constipation, consultation, consummation, contamination, contemplation, continuation, conversation, convocation, coordination, coronation, correlation, creation, cremation, criminalization, crustacean, culmination, cultivation, dalmatian, damnation, decaffeination, decapitation, decentralization, decertification, decontamination, decriminalization, dedication, defamation, deflation, deforestation, deformation, degradation, dehumanization, dehydration, deification, deinstitutionalization, delegation, delineation, demarcation, demilitarization, demobilization, democratization, demodulation, demonization, demonstration, demoralization, denationalization, denomination, denuclearization, denunciation, depopulation, deportation, depravation, depreciation, depredation, deprivation, deregulation, derivation, desalination, desalinization, desecration, desegregation, desiccation, designation, desolation, destabilization, destination, determination, detonation, detoxication, detoxification, devaluation, devastation, deviation, dictation, differentiation, dilatation, dilation, discontinuation, discrimination, disembarkation, disinclination, disinflation, disinformation, disintegration, dislocation, disorganization, disorientation, dispensation, disputation, disqualification, dissemination, dissertation, dissipation, dissociation, distillation, diversification, divination, documentation, domestication, domination, donation, dramatization, duplication, duration, echolocation, edification, education, ejaculation, elation, electrification, elevation, elimination, elongation, emanation, emancipation, embarkation, emigration, emulation, equalization, equitation, equivocation, eradication, escalation, estimation, evacuation, evaluation, evocation, exacerbation, examination, excavation, excitation, exclamation, excommunication, exfoliation, exhalation, exhortation, exhumation, expatriation, expectation, experimentation, explanation, explication, exploitation, expropriation, extermination, extrapolation, fabrication, facilitation, falsification, fascination, fermentation, fertilization, fibrillation, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, fluctuation, fluoridation, foliation, formation, formulation, fortification, foundation, fragmentation, frustration, fumigation, gasification, gastrulation, generalization, gentrification, germination, gestation, glaciation, globalization, glorification, gradation, graduation, granulation, gratification, gravitation, gyration, habitation, hallucination, harmonization, hesitation, hibernation, hospitalization, humiliation, hybridization, hydration, hydrogenation, hyperinflation, identification, illumination, illustration, imagination, imitation, immigration, immunization, impersonation, implantation, implementation, implication, importation, impregnation, improvisation, imputation, inactivation, incantation, incapacitation, incarnation, inclination, incoordination, incrimination, incrustation, incubation, indemnification, indentation, indexation, indication, indignation, indoctrination, industrialization, infatuation, infestation, infiltration, inflammation, inflation, information, inhabitation, inhalation, initiation, innovation, inoculation, insemination, insinuation, installation, instigation, institutionalization, instrumentation, insubordination, insulation, integration, intensification, internationalization, interpretation, interrogation, intimation, intimidation, intonation, intoxication, inundation, invalidation, investigation, invitation, invocation, ionization, irradiation, irrigation, irritation, isolation, jubilation, justification, lactation, legalization, legislation, levitation, liberalization, libration, ligation, limitation, liquidation, litigation, localization, location, lubrication, machination, magnetization, magnification, malformation, manifestation, manipulation, marginalization, masturbation, maximization, mechanization, mediation, medication, meditation, menstruation, migration, mineralization, miniaturization, ministration, misallocation, misapplication, misappropriation, miscalculation, mischaracterization, miscommunication, miscreation, misidentification, misinformation, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, mitigation, mobilization, modernization, modification, modulation, molestation, monopolization, motivation, multiplication, mummification, mutation, mutilation, narration, nation, nationalization, naturalization, navigation, negation, negotiation, neutralization, nitration, nomination, nondiscrimination, normalization, notation, notification, nucleation, nullification, obfuscation, obligation, observation, occupation, optimization, oration, orchestration, ordination, organisation, organization, orientation, origination, ornamentation, oscillation, ossification, ostentation, ovation, overpopulation, overregulation, overvaluation, ovulation, oxidation, pacification, pagination, palpitation, participation, pasteurization, penetration, permutation, perpetuation, personalization, personification, perturbation, pigmentation, plantation, polarization, politicization, pollination, pontification, popularization, population, precipitation, predestination, prefabrication, premeditation, preoccupation, presentation, preservation, pressurization, privation, privatization, probation, proclamation, procrastination, procreation, profanation, prognostication, pronunciation, propagation, proration, prostration, protestation, provocation, publication, punctuation, purification, qualification, quantification, quotation, radiation, radicalization, ramification, ratification, rationalization, reaffirmation, realization, reallocation, reauthorization, recalculation, recantation, recapitalization, recertification, recitation, reclamation, reclassification, recommendation, reconciliation, reconfirmation, recreation, recrimination, rectification, rededication, reevaluation, reexamination, reflation, reforestation, reformation, refutation, regimentation, registration, regulation, rehabilitation, rehydration, reincarnation, reinterpretation, rejuvenation, relation, relaxation, relocation, remediation, renationalization, renegotiation, renomination, renovation, renunciation, reorganization, repatriation, replication, representation, repudiation, reputation, reregulation, reservation, resignation, resuscitation, retaliation, retardation, reunification, revaluation, revelation, revitalization, revocation, rotation, rumination, salvation, sanctification, sanitation, saponification, securitization, sedation, sedimentation, segmentation, segregation, sensation, sequestration, simplification, simulation, situation, socialization, solicitation, sophistication, specialization, specification, speculation, stabilization, stagflation, stagnation, standardization, starvation, station, sterilization, stimulation, stipulation, strangulation, subluxation, subordination, subsidization, substantiation, suburbanization, suffocation, summation, superstation, syndication, tabulation, taxation, telecommunication, temptation, termination, titillation, transformation, transillumination, translation, transplantation, transportation, trepidation, triangulation, tribulation, undervaluation, unification, unionization, urbanization, usurpation, utilization, vacation, vaccination, vacillation, validation, valuation, vaporization, variation, vegetation, ventilation, verification, vibration, victimization, vilification, vindication, violation, visitation, visualization, vocation, vulgarization, westernization.
3	-sh u n	abduction, abolition, abortion, absolution, absorption, abstraction, academician, accession, accretion, acquisition, action, addiction, addition, admission, admonition, adoption, advection, affection, affliction, aggression, alliteration, alternation, ambition, ammunition, antiabortion, anticorruption, apparition, apportion, apprehension, ascension, ashen, assertion, assumption, attention, attraction, attribution, attrition, auction, audition, beautician, benediction, brutalization, caption, carburetion, caution, circulation, circumspection, clinician, coalition, coercion, cognition, collection, commission, commotion, compassion, competition, completion, complexion, composition, comprehension, compression, compulsion, compunction, conception, conceptualization, concession, concoction, concussion, condescension, condition, conduction, confection, confession, conjunction, connection, conniption, conscription, constitution, constriction, construction, consumption, contention, contortion, contraception, contraction, contradiction, contraption, contribution, contrition, convection, convention, conviction, convolution, convulsion, correction, corruption, counterrevolution, crucifixion, cushion, deception, decimation, decommission, decomposition, decompression, deconstruction, deduction, defection, definition, deletion, demolition, demotion, dentition, depiction, depletion, deposition, depression, dereliction, description, desertion, destitution, destruction, detection, detention, deterioration, devolution, devotion, diction, dietitian, diffraction, digression, dilution, dimension, diminution, direction, disaffection, disconnection, discretion, discussion, disinfection, disposition, disruption, dissatisfaction, dissection, dissension, dissolution, distinction, distortion, distraction, distribution, dysfunction, edition, egyptian, ejection, election, electrician, electrocution, elocution, emission, emotion, emulsion, encryption, erection, erudition, eruption, eviction, evolution, exaction, exception, excoriation, excretion, execution, exemption, exertion, exhibition, expansion, expedition, exposition, expression, expulsion, extension, extinction, extortion, extraction, extradition, faction, fashion, fiction, fission, flexion, formalization, fraction, freshen, friction, fruition, function, gentian, geriatrician, gumption, hessian, homogenization, hypertension, hypotension, ignition, impassion, imperfection, imposition, impression, inaction, inception, incineration, indiscretion, induction, infarction, infection, inflection, infliction, infraction, inhibition, injection, injunction, inquisition, inscription, insertion, inspection, institution, instruction, insurrection, interaction, interception, intercession, interconnection, interdiction, interjection, intermission, interruption, intersection, introduction, introspection, intuition, invention, junction, jurisdiction, juxtaposition, lilliputian, liposuction, liquefaction, locomotion, logician, lotion, magician, malfunction, malnutrition, mansion, martian, mathematician, mention, midsection, misapprehension, misconception, misimpression, misperception, mission, mortician, motion, munition, musician, nonaggression, nonfiction, nonprescription, notion, nutrition, objection, obsession, obstetrician, obstruction, ocean, omission, opposition, oppression, optician, option, overconsumption, overexpansion, overproduction, overprotection, overreaction, oversimplification, partition, passion, patrician, pediatrician, pension, perception, percussion, perfection, permission, persecution, petition, physician, politician, pollution, portion, position, possession, potion, precaution, precession, preconception, precondition, prediction, predilection, predisposition, preelection, preemption, preignition, premonition, prescription, presumption, presupposition, pretension, prevention, procession, production, profession, progression, prohibition, projection, promotion, proportion, proposition, propulsion, proscription, prosecution, prostitution, protection, ration, reaction, reassertion, reception, recession, recognition, recollection, recondition, reconstruction, redefinition, redemption, redirection, redistribution, reduction, reeducation, reelection, reflection, regression, reimposition, reinspection, reintegration, reintroduction, reinvention, rejection, remission, rendition, repercussion, repetition, reposition, repossession, repression, reproduction, requisition, resolution, restitution, restriction, resumption, resurrection, retention, retraction, retransmission, retribution, revolution, revulsion, rhetorician, sanction, satisfaction, secession, secretion, section, sedition, seduction, selection, session, solution, statistician, submission, subscription, subsection, substation, substitution, subtraction, succession, suction, superstition, supposition, suppression, suspension, suspicion, syncopation, tactician, technician, tension, theoretician, titian, traction, tradition, transaction, transcription, transection, transgression, transition, transmission, tuition, venetian, volition, workstation.
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Anagrams: Acceleration

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-a-c-c-e-e-i-l-n-o-r-t"
	-2 letters: accelerant, electronic, laceration.
	-3 letters: accretion, aleatoric, alienator, anorectic, arecoline, cantorial, centriole, clearance, coeternal, concealer, interlace, rationale, reactance, reconcile, tolerance.
	-4 letters: accentor, acentric, acetonic, acierate, acrolect, acrolein, aeration, aerolite, alienate, analcite, anoretic, areolate, calcanei, calceate, canceler, canticle, caracole, carcanet, carinate, carotene, celeriac, centiare, cetacean, cicerone, cilantro, clarence, clarinet, cocinera, cocreate, colinear, concerti, concrete, contrail, corelate, cornicle, cortical, craniate, cratonic, creatine, creation, croceine, elaterin, election, electric, electron, elenctic, encircle, entailer, erection, erotical, increate, iterance, lacerate, lactonic, laitance, licencer, loricate, narcotic, necrotic, neoteric, notarial, oriental, raincoat, rational, reaccent, reaction, relation, reliance, relocate, tailrace, treenail.
	-5 letters: acarine, accrete, acerate, acerola, acetone, aconite, acronic, acrotic, actinal, aeolian, aileron, alation, aliener, alienor, aloetic, anticar, arenite, areolae, article, atelier, calcine, calcite, caloric, calorie, caracol, carinae, carinal, carioca, cariole, carline, carotin, catenae, cateran, cenacle, centare, centile, central, centric, ceratin, cerotic, certain, cicoree, cineole, circlet, clarion, cleaner, cloacae, coalier, cocaine, coeliac, coenact, coerect, cointer, conceal, conceit, concert, conical, coracle, corneae, corneal, cornice, coterie, cranial, creatin, crenate, crocein, crocine, eccrine, elation, elector, electro, eloiner, enactor, enteral, enteric, enticer, erotica, eternal, laconic, lactean, lactone, latrine, lectern, lection, licence, licente, lineate, locater, loricae, noticer, ocarina, oceanic, ocreate, orectic, ratline, recital, reclean, recline, reenact, reliant, reticle, retinae, retinal, retinol, tacrine, taeniae, teleran, tiercel, toenail, trainee, treacle, trenail.
	Words containing the letters "a-a-c-c-e-e-i-l-n-o-r-t"
	+1 letter: accelerations.
	+3 letters: corynebacterial, precancellation.
	+4 letters: deuterocanonical, microencapsulate, precancellations.
	+5 letters: catecholaminergic, electroanalytical, electromechanical, microencapsulated, microencapsulates.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

Domain	Definitions
Aerospace	1. The rate of change of velocity.2. The act or process of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated. Negative acceleration is called deceleration . (references)
Computing	Rate of change of the velocity at the point under consideration along a specified linear ramp. Source: European Union. (references)
Geological	When you step on the accelerator in the car or put on the brakes, the car goes faster or slower. When it is changing from one speed to another, it is accelerating (faster) or decelerating (slower). This change from one speed, or velocity, to another is called acceleration. During an earthquake when the ground is shaking, it also experiences acceleration. The peak acceleration is the largest acceleration recorded by a particular station during an earthquake. (references)
Physics	The rate of change of linear velocity. It can be expressed, e. g. in centimetres per second per second(cm/s(2)), or in feet per second per second(ft/s(2)). Source: European Union. (references)
	A)the rate of change of velocity; b)the act or process of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated. Negative acceleration is called deceleration. Source: European Union. (references)
Public Administration	In physics or mechanics, the rate of velocity change with time; Speeding. Source: European Union. (references)
Science	Science: in general, any increase in the speed or rate at which some process occur; in technical use acceleration and speed are not synonymous. Mechanics: the vector representing the rate of change in velocity vector over time. It is expressed in meters (or feet) per second per second, and it involves an increase or decrease in speed and a change in direction. (references)
Space	The speeding-up of motion (or in general, any change of velocity, in magnitude and/or direction). Fast electrons in the aurora, charged particles in the radiation belt , cosmic rays etc., all require an acceleration process to provide their high energy. More about auroral acceleration, here. (references)
	Rate at which velocity changes (negative accelerationslowing downis also known as deceleration). Acceleration is a vector quantity. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
Entry	Source	Expression	Field
ACU	English	Acceleration Control Unit	Mechanical Engineering, Transportation
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Haste	Noun: haste, urgency; despatch, dispatch; acceleration, spurt, spirt, forced march, rush, dash; speed, velocity; precipitancy, precipitation, precipitousness; Adjective: impetuosity; brusquerie; hurry, drive, scramble, bustle, fuss, fidget, flurry, flutter, splutter.
Velocity	Noun: velocity, speed, celerity; swiftness; Adjective: rapidity, eagle speed; expedition; (activity); pernicity; acceleration; haste.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Domain	Usage
Screenplays	Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail us now! (The Blues Brothers ; writing credit: Dan Aykroyd, John Landis)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Domain	Title
Books	Acceleration (reference) Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything (reference) MCSE ISA Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 Study Guide (Exam 70-227) (reference) MCSE Training Guide (70-227): Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 (reference) The Academic Acceleration of Gifted Children (Education and Psychology of the Gifted) (reference) (more book examples)

Theater & Movies	Healing Acceleration (reference) Speed & Acceleration Workout (reference) (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music	Acceleration (reference) Acceleration 7 [EP] [EP] (reference) Acceleration and Distortion (reference) (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech	NASCAR Acceleration Pack (reference) Diamond Sonic Impact S100 3D PCI Audio Acceleration (reference) P1730-VH ACCELERATION KIT-FIELD INSTALLTION KIT (reference) Vpn Acceleration Kit Add-on forr-series Routers (reference) Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 (reference) (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Title	Author	Quote
Life, the Universe and Everything	Douglas Adams	Arthur lay in startled stillness on the acceleration couch.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Speaker	Term	Phrase(s)
Ronald Reagan	1981-1989	The time has also come for major reform of our criminal justice statutes and acceleration of the drive against organized crime and drug trafficking.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Parts of Speech	Percent	Usage per 100 Million Words	Rank in English
Noun (singular)	100%	653	10,016

Expression	Frequency per Day
acceleration	481
web acceleration	32
application acceleration	28
acceleration formula	26
acceleration minnesota	21
acceleration frappier	20
acceleration gravity	20
acceleration due gravity	19
internet acceleration	18
hardware acceleration	18
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Derivations
	Words beginning with "acceleration": accelerations. (additional references)
Misspellings
	"Acceleration" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: accelaration, Accelarazione, acceleratio, accellaration, accelleration, acelaration, aceleration, acelleration. (additional references)
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Acceleration

Definitions: Acceleration

Acceleration

Noun

Specialty Definitions: Acceleration

Specialty Definition: Acceleration

Abbreviations & Acronyms: Acceleration

Synonyms: Acceleration

Synonyms within Context: Acceleration

Haste

Velocity

Crosswords: Acceleration

Modern Usage: Acceleration

Screenplays

Commercial Usage: Acceleration

Books

Theater & Movies

Music

High Tech

Image Slideshow: Acceleration

Computer Images:Acceleration

Use in Literature: Acceleration

Life, the Universe and Everything

Douglas Adams

Non-Fiction Usage: Acceleration

Speeches: Acceleration

Ronald Reagan

Usage Frequency: Acceleration

Expressions: Acceleration

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Acceleration

acceleration

web acceleration

application acceleration

acceleration formula

acceleration minnesota

acceleration frappier

acceleration gravity

acceleration due gravity

internet acceleration

hardware acceleration

Modern Translations: Acceleration

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Derivations & Misspellings: Acceleration

Derivations

Misspellings

Rhyming with "Acceleration"

Anagrams: Acceleration

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Alternative Orthography: Acceleration

41 63 63 65 6C 65 72 61 74 69 6F 6E

Computer Images:
Acceleration