Accretion

English Meaning

The act of increasing by natural growth; esp. the increase of organic bodies by the internal accession of parts; organic growth.

1. Growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion.
2. Something contributing to such growth or increase: "the accretions of paint that had buried the door's details like snow” ( Christopher Andreae).
3. Biology The growing together or adherence of parts that are normally separate.
4. Geology Slow addition to land by deposition of water-borne sediment.
5. Geology An increase of land along the shores of a body of water, as by alluvial deposit.
6. Astronomy An increase in the mass of a celestial object by the collection of surrounding interstellar gases and objects by gravity.