accretion

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noun ac·cre·tion \ ə-ˈkrē-shən \

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of accretion

1 :the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup: such 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

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accretionary

play \-shə-ˌner-ē, -ˌne-rē\ adjective

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accretive

play \ə-ˈkrē-tiv\ adjective

See accretion defined for English-language learners

See accretion defined for kids

Examples of accretion in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of accretion from the Web

The accretion of these acts of defiance is significant.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Fledgling Presidency Has Already Collapsed," 4 Aug. 2017
This solar system hasn't even formed planets yet; all the material in the system is concentrated in what's known as an 'accretion disk.'

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Found the Building Blocks For Life Around a Young Star," 30 June 2017
To imagine how angular (or rotational) momentum is removed from an accretion disk, think of a hammer thrower spinning on the spot.

— ian o'neill space.com contributor, Fox News, "Newborn star gorges on a 'space hamburger,' belching spinning jets," 28 June 2017
Evolution was not a sudden shift, but a gradual accretion of features and a series of mutations affecting development, the researchers said.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "Oldest Homo sapiens fossils discovered," 7 June 2017
As with so much in Ostlund’s work, none of them come as major Hollywood-style epiphanies; a slow accretion of events chip away at a character.

— steven zeitchik, latimes.com, "Cannes 2017: In ‘The Square,’ moral dilemmas as cinematic experience," 20 May 2017
Atlantia’s eventual acquisition of Abertis may lead to an earnings per share accretion of about 30 percent, Francesco Sala, an analyst at Banca Akros, said in a note to clients.

— tommaso ebhardt, Bloomberg.com, "Atlantia Offers $18 Billion for Abertis to Form Toll-Road Giant," 15 May 2017
There’s no way to overstate how much this will matter to the Murdochs, and not just because of the 12 to 15 percent earnings accretion that the London firm Enders Analysis says the deal would bring within two or three years.

— jim rutenberg, New York Times, "Murdochs’ TV Deal in Britain Hinges on 3 Words: ‘Fit and Proper’," 30 Apr. 2017
The oldest rocks are more than 2500 million years old and contain a record of many of the events that transpired during that vast period of geologic time, including accretion of a significant portion of Oregon and Washington.

— idahostatesman, "Boise author advises business owners on how to be socially responsible," 28 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accretion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The slow accretion of scientific knowledge over many centuries has turned into an avalanche in our time. Any accretion of ice on a grounded jet will result in takeoff delays because of the danger it poses. The land area of the Mississippi Delta increases every year from the accretion of soil washed down the Mississippi River, though the accretions happen so slowly that it's difficult to detect any increase at all. Accretion is often used in scientific writing; its usual verb form, accrue, is more often used in financial contexts ("This figure doesn't count the accrued interest on the investments").

Origin and Etymology of accretion

borrowed from Latin accrētiōn-, accrētiō "increase," from accrē- (stem of accrēscere "to increase, be added") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at accrue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1615

See Words from the same year

accretion Synonyms

Near Antonyms

deduction, subtraction

Financial Definition of ACCRETION

accretion

noun

What It Is

Accretion is growth, typically in earnings, usually after an acquisition or other significant event. In the bond world, accretion refers to the capital gains earned on a bond purchased at a discount.

How It Works

Let's assume Company XYZ decides to buy Company ABC. Company XYZ's earnings per share before the acquisition are $0.15. Due to the acquisition, its earnings per share shoot up to $0.25, which makes the acquisition accretive to earnings by $0.10 per share.

In the bond world, let's assume that Jane Doe buys a 10-year bond issued by IBM. The bond has a face value of $1,000, but Jane buys it at a discount and pays $900. Over the next 10 years, Jane will see $100 of accretion on her bond ($1,000 - $900). Even though Jane doesn't actually receive the $100 until the bond matures, she must pay taxes on the accretion as it occurs over the 10 years.

Why It Matters

Accretion is a good thing for companies because it adds to the bottom line and thus increases shareholder value, which is the goal of every company. Of course, not all acquisitions turn out to be accretive, despite all the forecasts saying so. Accordingly, the manner in which an acquirer integrates a target into its operations, as well as the quality of the strategic fit between the two entities, are both key to ensuring that the expected gains materialize.

Any bond purchased at a discount accretes, and knowing to anticipate and calculate this accretion can make a big difference in an investor's tax situation.

Source: Investing Answers

ACCRETION Defined for English Language Learners

accretion

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noun

Definition of accretion for English Language Learners

: a gradual process in which layers of a material are formed as small amounts are added over time
: something that has grown or accumulated slowly : a product or result of gradual growth

Medical Dictionary

accretion

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noun ac·cre·tion \ ə-ˈkrē-shən \

medical Definition of accretion

:the process of growth or enlargement; especially :increase by external addition or accumulation (as by adhesion of external parts or particles) — compare apposition 1, intussusception 2

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accretionary

play \-shə-ˌner-ē\ adjective

Law Dictionary

accretion

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noun ac·cre·tion \ ə-ˈkrē-shən \

legal Definition of accretion

1 :the process or a result of growth or enlargement: as

a :the increase or extension of the boundaries of land or the consequent acquisition of land accruing to the owner by the gradual or imperceptible action of natural forces (as by the washing up of sand or soil from the sea or a river or by a gradual recession of the water from the usual watermark); also :accession in which the boundaries of land are enlarged by this process — compare avulsion, reliction

b :increase in the amount or extent of any kind of property or in the value of any property

accretions to a trust fund resulting from the increase in value of…securities in which its corpus is invested
—In re Estate of Gartenlaub, 244 P. 348 (1926)

Note: Accretion in value of the principal of a trust is generally not considered income.

c :enlargement of a bargaining unit by the addition of new employees

2 in the civil law of Louisiana :the passing to an heir or conjoint legatee of the right to accept a portion of a succession resulting from the failure of a coheir or colegatee to take his or her own share