accretionary

ac·cre·tion  (-krshn)

n.

1.

a. Growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion.

b. Something contributing to such growth or increase: "the accretions of paint that had buried the door's details like snow" (Christopher Andreae).

2. Biology The growing together or adherence of parts that are normally separate.

3. Geology

a. Slow addition to land by deposition of water-borne sediment.

b. An increase of land along the shores of a body of water, as by alluvial deposit.

4. Astronomy An increase in the mass of a celestial object by the collection of surrounding interstellar gases and objects by gravity.

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[Latin accrti, accrtin-, from accrtus, past participle of accrscere, to grow; see accrue.]

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ac·cretion·ary (-sh-nr), ac·cretive adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

accretionary - marked or produced by accretion increasing - becoming greater or larger; "increasing prices"