accumulate

Formsaccumulates, accumulating, accumulated

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To slowly gather more and more of something over time, often without really trying.

   Like a snowball that picks up more snow as it rolls along.

   Over the years they accumulate a huge pile of old magazines.

   She accumulated a lot of debt while in college.

   Similarpile, amass, collect, hoard, heap

   Oppositedisperse, dissipate, scatter

   Note
2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To slowly grow larger in amount or number over time.

   Like leaves piling up on the ground in the fall.

   Snow began to accumulate on the rooftops overnight.

   Dust accumulates quickly in an empty room.

   Similargather, collect, aggregate

   Oppositediminish, dwindle, decrease

   Note
3. 3
   verbdatedtransitive

   To get a higher college degree at the same time as a lower one, or sooner than usual.

   He chose to accumulate his doctorate alongside his master's degree.

   Wealthy scholars often accumulated several degrees within a single year.

   Note

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