accelerant

[ak-sel-er-uhnt]

noun

1. something that speeds up a process.

2. Chemistry.,  accelerator.

3. a substance that accelerates the spread of fire or makes a fire more intense.

   Arson was suspected when police found accelerants at the scene of the fire.

accelerant

/ ækˈsɛlərənt /

noun

1. chem another name for accelerator

accelerant

1. A substance, such as a petroleum distillate, that is used as a catalyst, as in spreading an intentionally set fire.

Word History and Origins

Origin of accelerant¹

1915–20; < Latin accelerant- (stem of accelerāns ) hastening (present participle of accelerāre ). See accelerate

Word History and Origins

Origin of accelerant¹

C20: from Latin from accelerāns, present participle of accelerāre to go faster

Example Sentences

Greenlighting the export of Nvidia’s Blackwell chips would be a seismic policy shift potentially giving China, the U.S.’s biggest geopolitical competitor, a technological accelerant.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr Stringer said police had told him an accelerant had been used to burn the hives, which were sitting on pallets in a wooded part of the park.

Read more on BBC

Soon after, the shooter set the church ablaze using gasoline or another accelerant, officials said.

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It functions as an accelerant to political violence.

Read more on Slate

The force said an accelerant was used to start the fire.

Read more on BBC