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Accretion
01
the process of something growing or increasing slowly over time as new parts are added
Examples
The slow accretion of knowledge shaped her expertise.
Over centuries, the accretion of traditions formed the nation's culture.
02
the process by which a beneficiary's portion of an estate grows because another co-beneficiary dies, rejects the inheritance, or fails to qualify
Examples
Under the will, her inheritance increased through accretion.
Accretion applied after one heir renounced their claim.
03
the gradual expansion of land caused by soil, sand, or sediment carried by water and deposited along the shore or riverbanks
Examples
The delta grew due to the constant accretion of sediment.
Landowners benefited from the accretion of fertile soil after floods.
04
the process of growth caused by the gradual buildup or sticking together of small parts or particles
Examples
Coral reefs form through the accretion of calcium carbonate layers.
The shell 's structure results from the slow accretion of minerals.
05
the process by which planets, stars, or other celestial bodies form as gravity pulls together surrounding gas, dust, and debris
Examples
The Earth was formed through the accretion of cosmic material.
Astronomers study accretion to understand how galaxies evolve.
Lexical Tree
accretion
accrete
