Definition of "accelerant" []

• A substance, such as a petroleum distillate, that is used as a catalyst, as in spreading an intentionally set fire. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "This would just remove an effective "accelerant" to further economic decline."
• "During the past month, Mr. Ballmer and other Microsoft executives have repeatedly characterized buying Yahoo as just an "accelerant" to a broader online strategy."
• "Can you really take two companies that are perceived as the slow-moving players in the online market, combine them, and make it an "accelerant," to your business, as you described it?"