1. Anything that increases rapidity of action or function.
2. In physiology, a nerve, muscle, or substance that quickens movement or response.
3. A catalytic agent used to hasten a chemical reaction.
4. In nuclear physics, a device that accelerates charged particles (e.g., protons) to high speed in order to produce nuclear reactions in a target, often for the production of radionuclides or for radiation therapy. Syn: accelerant.
Origin
[L. accelerans, pres. p. of ac-celero, to hasten, fr. celer, swift]
linear accelerator
proserum prothrombin conversion accelerator
prothrombin accelerator
serum accelerator
serum prothrombin conversion accelerator