accumulation

Everyday

1. The slow collecting or building up of something over time. tree →
2. A pile or amount that has built up. tree →

In the lessons

In science: accumulation of snow, rubbish, sediment or dust; in money: accumulation of savings. In maths problems it often means a total that grows step by step. Phrases: accumulation of, snow accumulation, a slow accumulation.

Examples

• There was a thick accumulation of dust under the bed. tree →
• The accumulation of snow closed the road. tree →
• Rivers leave an accumulation of mud at their mouths. tree →
• Her savings grew by slow accumulation of pocket money. tree →
• An accumulation of rubbish attracted rats. tree →
• The weather report said to expect a large accumulation of rain. tree →

Note

Verb: accumulate. Slightly formal; everyday words are build-up, pile, heap. In maths, "accumulated" means added up over time, so you find a running total.