# accumulate

Pronunciation: US say "uh-KYOO-myuh-layt" /əˈkju.mjəˌleɪt/; UK say "uh-KYOO-myuu-layt" /əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt/

## Verb

1. To gather or pile up a quantity of something over time, often gradually and without deliberate effort.
   - Simple: To slowly gather more and more of something over time, often without really trying.
   - _Investors accumulate wealth slowly through regular, modest contributions._
   - _The abandoned house had accumulated layers of dust over decades._
2. To grow or increase in quantity or number, little by little over time.
   - Simple: To slowly grow larger in amount or number over time.
   - _Interest will accumulate on the unpaid balance each month._
   - _Evidence accumulated until the theory could no longer be ignored._

## Verb

3. To take a higher academic degree at the same time as a lower one, or after a shorter interval than is usual. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To get a higher college degree at the same time as a lower one, or sooner than usual.
   - _The candidate accumulated his bachelor's and doctorate together, as the old statutes allowed._
   - _Few students today can accumulate two degrees at one ceremony._

## Adjective

4. Heaped or gathered together into a single mass; collected. *(rare)*
   - Simple: Gathered together into one pile or amount.

## Origin

First attested around 1487, from Middle English accumylaten, borrowed from Latin accumulātus, the past participle of accumulō ("to amass, pile up"). This was formed from ad ("to, towards") plus cumulō ("to heap"), which comes from cumulus ("a heap"). It is cognate with French accumuler.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/accumulate (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).