Vocabulary Spotlight
Decelerate
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To reduce the speed of something; to slow down.
“As the car approached the town, the driver began to decelerate.”
Pronunciation
[dee-sel-uh-reyt]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Reduce speed
Brake
Retard
Lessen
Antonyms
Speed up
Quickening
Hasten
Advance
Related Words
Braking (noun)
Reduction (noun)
Word Origin
“Decelerate” comes from the Latin “de-” meaning “down” and “celer,” meaning “swift.” It was adopted in the early 20th century to describe the act of reducing speed.
Word Family
Verb: Decelerate – To slow down or reduce speed.
Noun: Deceleration – The act or process of slowing down.
Noun: Decelerator – A device that reduces speed, such as brakes.
Mnemonics
Think “Decelerate” as “De” + “Accelerate” – to undo or reduce acceleration.
Another mnemonic: Imagine pressing the brakes to “de-speed” or decelerate a moving car.
Industry-specific Usage
Automotive
In automotive terms, deceleration refers to slowing down the vehicle by braking or reducing engine speed.
Physics
In physics, deceleration describes the decrease in velocity, which can be measured as negative acceleration.
Aerospace
In aerospace, deceleration occurs during re-entry or landing, reducing speed for safe arrival.
In Context
Decelerate is often used in transportation and science to discuss slowing down or reducing speed. In everyday life, people might decelerate during changes in pace, whether in vehicles, sports, or even projects.