Accretion
/əˈkriːʃən/
nounC1
Definition
Accretion means slowly growing or increasing by adding small amounts little by little. It often happens naturally, like dust collecting on a surface or planets forming by gathering small rocks. It can also describe the slow growth of something abstract, like money or information.
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See It in Action
Natural increase by gradual addition of material
- •The accretion of dust on the windowsill showed how long the house was empty.
- •Planets form through the accretion of space dust and rocks.
- •The river delta grew by accretion of soil and sand over many years.
Gradual growth in abstract things like money or information
- •The accretion of interest on the savings account helped her reach her goal.
- •Knowledge builds by the accretion of facts and experiences.
- •The company’s value increased by the accretion of small profits over time.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'accretion' like 'growth,' but very slow and by adding many tiny pieces bit by bit
- ✓Picture snow slowly piling up on the ground, layer after layer, until it becomes thick
- ✓It's the feeling when you save a little money every day and after a long time, you have a lot
- ✓Sounds like 'a-CRISH-un' → imagine little crystals (like 'crisp') sticking together to make a bigger shape
- ✓In stories, think of a pearl forming inside an oyster, growing slowly as layers build up
- ✓NOT like 'explosion' (quick and big), accretion is slow and steady
- ✓NOT like 'growth' from inside (like a plant growing), accretion is adding from outside, piece by piece
- ✓NOT like 'collection' (choosing things), accretion happens naturally without active choice
Try Other Words
- •Build-up: slow increase by adding parts (Use when describing physical or abstract things gradually increasing)
- •Accumulation: gathering or collecting over time (Use when the focus is on collecting rather than natural sticking or joining)
- •Increase: general rise in size or number (Use for simple, general contexts without the idea of layering or sticking)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix 'ac-' (to, toward) + root 'cre-' (grow) + suffix '-tion' (noun form)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'accretio,' meaning a growing or increase by addition
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s in English, first in natural science to describe growth by adding layers or parts
- •Modern usage: Common in science (astronomy, geology, biology) and finance to describe slow, natural growth or increase
Reflect & Connect
•How can understanding accretion help you think about changes in nature or money over time?
•Can you think of a situation in your life where small, slow additions made a big difference?
Fill in the blanks
1.The accretion of dust on the old book showed it had been ___ unused for months.
2.Planets grow by the accretion of small ___ and rocks in space.
3.Unlike sudden changes, accretion happens ___ over a long time.
4.The bank account balance increased slowly due to the accretion of ___.
5.Accretion is different from growth because it adds material from the ___.
6.When information grows by accretion, it builds up ___ through many small facts.
7.The river's shape changed because of the accretion of ___ and soil at its mouth.