accelerant
ac·cel·er·ant [ ik-ˈse-lə-rənt]
[ik-ˈse-lə-rənt]
: a substance used to accelerate a process (such as the spreading of a fire) Recent Examples on the Web
//Fox is already on his way, which makes his arrival with USA Basketball a timely accelerant.
—
Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Team USA Offers De’Aaron Fox a Path to Stardom," 8 Aug. 2019
//Harris County deputies discovered that the man had thrown accelerant at the ex-girlfriend's door, then exchanged gunfire with a couple inside the ex-girlfriend's apartment.
—
Alison Medley, Houston Chronicle, "Woman's ex-boyfriend detained after bomb threat at NW Harris County apartment complex," 15 Sep. 2019
//An accelerant was then applied to bond the structures.
—
Eduardo Medina, SFChronicle.com, "UC Merced student finds 65 million-year-old Triceratops skull," 26 July 2019
//After, an accelerant was applied to bond the structures.
—
Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, "California college student discovers 65-million-year-old Triceratops skull," 25 July 2019
//Williams said the fire was intentionally set and that unknown accelerants were used to ignite the fire.
—
Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "3-year-old girl, 5-year-old boy among four dead in Cleveland’s Slavic Village, family member says," 9 July 2019
//Officers found a gas tank, believed to be the accelerant, near the front door inside and a lighter on the ground outside.
—
Harriet Sokmensuer, PEOPLE.com, "Minnesota Man Allegedly Kills Daughter, 22, by Setting Fire to Home After Argument," 29 July 2019
//The fire started in the three-story building after the suspect sprayed an unidentified liquid accelerant, Kyoto prefectural police and fire department officials said, according to the Associated Press.
—
Julia Webster, Time, "A Fire at Kyoto Animation Killed 33 People. Here's What to Know About the Deadly Arson Attack in Japan," 19 July 2019
//The blaze started in the three-story building in Japan's ancient capital after the attacker sprayed an unidentified liquid accelerant, police and fire officials said.
—
Mari Yamaguchi, chicagotribune.com, "Man shouting ‘You die!’ sets Japanese anime studio on fire, killing 33 people; suspect taken to hospital," 18 July 2019
First Known Use of accelerant
1824, in the meaning defined above
History and Etymology for accelerant
Dictionary Entries near accelerant