accretion

What does “accretion” mean?

noun.growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in passages related to science, ecology, or finance, emphasizing the gradual and often natural process of growth or accumulation. It implies a sense of organic development over time, differentiating it from more abrupt or artificial increases, such as "surge" or "spike."

Common Confusions

Accretion implies a gradual and natural growth through accumulation, while increase usually suggests a more sudden or immediate rise in quantity or size.

Example Sentences

• A mineral ... augments not by growth, but by accretion.

• The steady accretion of sediment formed new land along the riverbank.

Word Parts: How to Remember “accretion”

Break “accretion” into its parts: ad- (to, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ad- to, toward (Latin)