accretion

ac·cre·tion

noun \ə-ˈkrē-shən\

Definition of ACCRETION

1

: the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup: as a : increase by external addition or accumulation (as by adhesion of external parts or particles) b : the increase of land by the action of natural forces

2

: a product of accretion; especially : an extraneous addition <accretions of grime>

— ac·cre·tion·ary \-shə-ˌner-ē, -ˌne-rē\ adjective

— ac·cre·tive \ə-ˈkrē-tiv\ adjective

Examples of ACCRETION

1. rocks formed by the slow accretion of limestone
2. There was an accretion of ice on the car's windshield.

Origin of ACCRETION

Latin accretion-, accretio, from accrescere — more at accrue

First Known Use: 1615

Related to ACCRETION

Synonyms: accumulation, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment (or lodgement), pileup

Antonyms: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words: agglomerate, assortment, congeries, conglomerate, conglomeration, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, mix, mixture, motley, potpourri; agglomeration, clutter, hash, heap, litter, mass, pile; aggregate, aggregation, sum, totality; backlog, cache, fund, hoard, inventory, kitty, nest egg, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply

Near Antonyms: deduction, subtraction

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with ACCRETION

Capetian, completion, concretion, deletion, depletion, excretion, Helvetian, Lucretian, Ossetian, Phoenician, repletion, secretion, suppletion, Tahitian, Venetian