accumulate

[uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

accumulated, accumulating 

1. to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up.

   to accumulate wealth.

verb (used without object)

accumulated, accumulating 

1. to gather into a heap, mass, cover, etc.; form a steadily increasing quantity.

   Snow accumulated in the driveway. His debts kept on accumulating.

accumulate

/ əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to gather or become gathered together in an increasing quantity; amass; collect

Other Word Forms

• accumulative adjective
• accumulatively adverb
• accumulativeness noun
• accumulable adjective
• nonaccumulating adjective
• overaccumulate verb
• preaccumulate verb (used with object)
• reaccumulate verb
• superaccumulate verb (used without object)
• unaccumulable adjective
• unaccumulated adjective
• well-accumulated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin accumulātus “heaped up,” past participle of accumulāre “to heap up,” from ac- ac- + cumul(us) “heap” ( cumulus ( def. ) ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulate¹

C16: from Latin accumulātus, past participle of accumulāre to heap up, from cumulus a heap

Related Words

• accrue 
• acquire 
• add to www.thesaurus.com
• assemble 
• collect 
• compile 
• concentrate 
• expand 
• gain 
• grow 
• hoard 
• increase 
• pile up 
• rack up 
• swell