accumulate

[uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt] /əˈkyu myəˌleɪt/

verb (used with object), accumulated, accumulating.

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

to accumulate wealth.

verb (used without object), accumulated, accumulating.

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

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

Origin

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

Related forms

accumulable, adjective

nonaccumulating, adjective

overaccumulate, verb, overaccumulated, overaccumulating.

preaccumulate, verb (used with object), preaccumulated, preaccumulating.

reaccumulate, verb, reaccumulated, reaccumulating.

superaccumulate, verb (used without object), superaccumulated, superaccumulating.

unaccumulable, adjective

unaccumulated, adjective

well-accumulated, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for accumulated

/əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt/

verb

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

Derived Forms

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

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for accumulated

adj.

past participle adjective from accumulate (v.). It drove out accumulate (adj.) in this sense (except in poetic use) by c.1700.

1520s, from Latin accumulatus, past participle of accumulare "to heap up" (see accumulation). Related: Accumulated; accumulating.