Accretion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ə-ˈkrē-shən/ ac·cre·tion

Meaning & Definition of Accretion

Accretion (noun)

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

Accretion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time

    "a thick accretion of ice in a freezer that obviously had not been cleaned for some time"

    similar: accumulation, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup
    related: 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

  2. something added (as by growth)

    "accretions of lime have thickened the cave's stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries"

    similar: accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accretion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accretion:

accumulation, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Accretion

Words with the opposite meaning of Accretion:

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

Related Words for Accretion

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

Near Antonyms of Accretion

deduction, subtraction

Word Forms of Accretion

Derived words: accretionary (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Accretion

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

First known use: 1615

Words & Phrases Containing Accretion

accretion disk

Frequently Asked Questions about Accretion

What does "Accretion" mean?

"Accretion" means the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup. As a noun, it is defined as: the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Accretion"?

Other words for "Accretion" include accumulation, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment and pileup. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accretion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accretion"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accretion". Common alternatives include accumulation, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment, pileup, accrual and addendum.

What is the opposite of "Accretion"?

Antonyms of "Accretion" include abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution and drop-off. Near antonyms include deduction and subtraction.

How do you use "Accretion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accretion" in a sentence: "a thick accretion of ice in a freezer that obviously had not been cleaned for some time"; "accretions of lime have thickened the cave's stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries".

Is "Accretion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accretion" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Accretion"?

"Accretion" is pronounced /ə-ˈkrē-shən/ and divided into syllables as ac·cre·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Accretion"?

"Accretion" comes from borrowed from Latin accrētiōn-, accrētiō "increase," from accrē- (stem of accrēscere "to increase, be added") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns accrue. First known use: 1615.