Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Acceleration has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
an increase in rate of change
"modern science caused an acceleration of cultural change"
the act of accelerating; increasing the speed
"The driver applied more pressure to the gas pedal, resulting in rapid acceleration as the car surged forward onto the highway."
(physics) a rate of increase of velocity
"The car's acceleration increased as it moved from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just five seconds."
The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated; increase of motion or action; as opposed to retardation or deceleration.
"The driver applied pressure to the gas pedal, causing a noticeable acceleration that pushed the car forward despite the heavy rain."
In plain English: Acceleration is how quickly something speeds up, slows down, or changes direction.
"The driver felt a sudden rush of acceleration as she stepped on the gas pedal to merge onto the highway."
Usage: Acceleration refers specifically to an object's rate of change in velocity over time rather than just its speed increasing. Use this term when describing how quickly something speeds up or slows down, distinguishing it from simple increases in velocity that do not involve a changing rate.
The word first appeared in English in 1531, borrowed from the French accélération or directly from the Latin accelerātiō, which means "a hastening." It is formed by combining the verb accelerate with the suffix -ion.