accumulator

noun ac·cu·mu·la·tor \ ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlā-tər \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of accumulator

: one that accumulates: such as

a : a device (as in a hydraulic system) in which a fluid is collected and especially in which it is kept under pressure as a means of storing energy

b British : storage battery

c : a part (as in a computer) where numbers are totaled or stored

See accumulator defined for kids

Recent Examples of accumulator from the Web

These accumulators, which target specialty medicines that are typically more expensive and are often injected or infused, do not count the value of any coupons toward out-of-pocket medicine costs that are applied toward deductibles.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Which drug makers are most vulnerable to a new cost-shifting maneuver?," 18 Apr. 2018
Backing multiple games at a low goal total Where accumulators are concerned, backing both teams to surpass a low goals total is something everyone should have in their thoughts.

— SI.com, "Top Tips: City, Liverpool and Heaps of Goals Feature in BetBull ACCA of the Week," 3 Nov. 2017
And don’t forget, download the BetBull app and follow me @Dan.90min to see if my accumulator brings home the money!

— SI.com, "West Ham vs Liverpool Match Preview: Classic Encounter, Team News, Prediction & More," 3 Nov. 2017
A heated accumulator tank will hold five liters of water during the launch and keep it from freezing until the spacecraft arrives at its destination, where temperatures will be markedly higher.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Robust Cooling System of a NASA Spacecraft Flying Into the Sun's Atmosphere," 27 June 2017
The can maximize accumulator capacity, like Chevrolet does with the Volt, or run a smaller (and lighter) system like the Toyota uses in their Prius.

— tony borroz, WIRED, "Hybrids Hit the Track," 8 May 2009

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