accelerant
accelerant Lexical Profile
accelerant Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A substance, especially a volatile fuel or chemical, used to aid the spread of a fire or increase the intensity of combustion.
"Forensic investigators tested the charred floorboards for traces of a liquid accelerant."
A chemical agent, catalyst, or figurative factor that speeds up the rate of a process or development.
"Remote collaboration tools acted as a major accelerant for the company's global expansion."
• adjective
Serving to increase the speed or rate of a process, action, or physiological function.
"The researchers studied the accelerant effects of higher temperatures on the chemical reaction."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'accelerant' (a chemical substance or catalyst that speeds up a reaction or fire) with 'accelerator' (a mechanical device, such as a car's gas pedal or a particle collider).
• Rhymes for accelerant
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin present participle 'accelerans', from the verb 'accelerare' ('to hasten or quicken'), combining 'ad-' ('to, toward') and 'celer' ('swift').