Definition of "accretion" in English

noun

1. (uncountable, also figurative) Increase by natural growth, especially the gradual increase of organic bodies by the internal addition of matter; organic growth; also, the amount of such growth.

2. (uncountable) (Gradual) increase by an external addition of matter; (countable) an instance of this.

   • Near-synonym: accumulation
   • A mineral augments not by growth, but by accretion.

3. (uncountable, also figurative) Followed by of: external addition of matter to a thing which causes it to grow, especially in amount or size.

4. (uncountable) The process of separate particles aggregating or coalescing together; concretion; (countable) a thing formed in this manner.

   • The accretion of particles forms a solid mass.

5. (countable, chiefly figurative) Something gradually added to or growing on a thing externally.

   • accretion of ice

6. (property law, uncountable) Increase in property by the addition of other property to it (for example, gain of land by alluvion (“the deposition of sediment by a river or sea”) or dereliction (“recession of water from the usual watermark”), or entitlement to the products of the property such as interest on money); or by the property owner acquiring another person’s ownership rights; accession; (countable) an instance of this.

7. (inheritance law, uncountable) Increase of an inheritance to an heir or legatee due to the share of a co-heir or co-legatee being added to it, because the latter person is legally unable to inherit the share.