accelerant

[ak-sel-er-uh nt] /ækˈsɛl ər ənt/

noun

something that speeds up a process.

Chemistry, accelerator (def 5).

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.

Origin

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

Examples from the web for accelerant

Of course, demand is a key component to driving value, but the defective nature of the appraisal process served as an accelerant.
But the scheme is more likely to be an ironic accelerant of it.
Gun-cotton is used as an accelerant in almost every firearm, including cannons.
Cloud seeding sounds fundamentally dangerous as a potential accelerant to climate change.
It is an insult to reason, a false distraction, and an accelerant for confusion.
One factor that may be significant in determining if a fire was intentionally set is the presence of an accelerant.
When a dog properly identifies an explosive or accelerant odor and sits, it is rewarded with food.
These canines are used to detect either narcotic, explosives or accelerant substances.
It was evident that a petroleum-based accelerant had been used to contribute to the fires progress.
They found that someone again used an accelerant to start the fire.

British Dictionary definitions for accelerant

/ækˈsɛlərənt/

noun

(chem) another name for accelerator (sense 3)

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for accelerant

1854, from Latin accelerantem (nominative accelerans), present participle of accelerare (see accelerate). As an adjective from 1890.

accelerant in Medicine

accelerant ac·cel·er·ant (āk-sěl'ər-ənt)
n.
Accelerator.

accelerant in Science

accelerant

(āk-sěl'ər-ənt)
A substance, such as a petroleum distillate, that is used as a catalyst, as in spreading an intentionally set fire.