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cumulate

verb cu·mu·late \ ˈkyü-myə-ˌlāt \
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Definition of cumulate

cumulated; cumulating
transitive verb
1 : to gather or pile in a heap
2 : to combine into one
3 : to build up by addition of new material
intransitive verb
: to become massed
—

cumulate

play \ˈkyü-myə-lət, -ˌlāt\ adjective
—

cumulation

play \ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən\ noun

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Did You Know?

Cumulate and its far more common relative "accumulate" both come from the Latin word cumulare, meaning "to heap up." "Cumulare," in turn, comes from cumulus, meaning "mass." ("Cumulus" functions as an English word in its own right as well. It can mean "heap" or "accumulation," or it can refer to a kind of dense puffy cloud with a flat base and rounded outlines.) "Cumulate" and "accumulate" overlap in meaning, but you're likely to find "cumulate" mostly in technical contexts. The word's related adjective, "cumulative," however, is used more widely.

Origin and Etymology of cumulate

Latin cumulatus, past participle of cumulare, from cumulus mass

Learn More about cumulate

  1. See words that rhyme with cumulate Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cumulate

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