accumulate

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt ]
/ əˈkyu myəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up: to accumulate wealth.

verb (used without object), ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

to gather into a heap, mass, cover, etc.; form a steadily increasing quantity: Snow accumulated in the driveway. His debts kept on accumulating.

Origin of accumulate

1520–30; < Latin accumulātus heaped up (past participle of accumulāre), equivalent to ac- ac- + cumul(us) heap + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM accumulate

Example sentences from the Web for accumulate

British Dictionary definitions for accumulate

accumulate
/ (əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

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

Derived forms of accumulate

accumulable, adjective accumulative, adjective accumulatively, adverb accumulativeness, noun

Word Origin for accumulate

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