accumulation

noun

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tion ə-ˌkyü-m(y)ə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: something that has accumulated or has been accumulated

an impressive accumulation of knowledge

2

: the action or process of accumulating something : the state of being or having accumulated

the steady accumulation of snow

3

: increase or growth by addition especially when continuous or repeated

accumulation of interest

Synonyms

• accretion
• assemblage
• collection
• cumulation
• cumulus
• gathering
• lodgment
• lodgement
• pileup

Examples of accumulation in a Sentence

a vast accumulation of evidence about the dangers of smoking

the accumulation of leaves on the ground is proceeding at a much faster rate than my raking

Recent Examples on the Web

Snow accumulations of 6 to 14 inches are possible, with sleet accumulations of up to an inch. —Dalia Faheid, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024

In the last decade, California endured two severe droughts, and then came the historic series of atmospheric rivers of 2023, which brought one of the biggest accumulations of snow on record and triggered damaging floods in parts of the state. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024

In a new study, my colleagues and I show how this effect, known as the suppression bias, compounds the impacts of fuel accumulation and climate change. —Mark Kreider, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Rainfall accumulation will be less than a tenth of an inch. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024

Think of it as Action painting’s evil twin: creation as slow, oozy accumulation. —Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024

Snow reports were still being collected but the highest accumulation so far was 53 inches in Nederland, a mountain town near Boulder, the weather service said. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024

Heavy snow accumulation of as much as 12 inches was possible for these regions, according to the advisory. —The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024

Light snow or a snow-rain mix is expected into early Saturday morning between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. with a chance of rain afterward, although there is little to no snow accumulation expected. —Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French accumulacion, borrowed from Latin accumulātiōn-, accumulātiō, from accumulāre "to accumulate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing accumulation

• point of accumulation

Kids Definition

accumulation

noun

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tion ə-ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: a collecting together : amassing

2

: increase or growth by addition

3

: something accumulated : collection

Legal Definition

accumulation

noun

ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tion

: increase or growth by addition especially when continuous or repeated

specifically : an increase in the amount of a fund or property by the continuous addition to it of the income or interest it generates

to treat a stock dividend as principal when local law classifies it as income may be deemed an accumulation

—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

see also accumulation trust at trust

Note: Because they prevent the enjoyment and benefit of wealth, accumulations are deemed contrary to public policy. A provision in a will for an accumulation will be invalidated if found to be unreasonable by the court.