̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈlāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: French or Latin; French, from Latin accumulation-, accumulatio, from accumulatus + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the action or process of accumulating : state of being or having accumulated : a collecting together : amassing
the steady accumulation of snow throughout the night
fabrics subject to the accumulation of static electricity
current theories about the accumulation of the sun and stars from dust clouds — H.C.Urey
2. : increase or growth by addition especially when continuous or repeated (as of interest to principal): as
a. : the increase of a fund or property by the continuous addition to it of the interest or income of it, subject in England to a rule analogous to the rule against perpetuities and in the United States allowed in many states only during the minority of the person for whom the property is held
b.
(1) in life insurance : retention of dividends for distribution at some later date
(2) in accident insurance : an increase in the principal sum that sometimes takes effect without change of premium upon each renewal of a policy
(3) in marine insurance : an increase in the limit of liability under open-cargo policies to double the normal amount if two or more cargoes at a port are loaded on the same vessel
c. : the gradual purchase of large quantities of securities in anticipation of a rise in price or for investment or control purposes
d. : appreciation between the date of purchase and maturity in the value of a bond bought at a discount
3. : something that has accumulated or has been accumulated : an accumulated mass, quantity, or number
huge accumulations of mouse-gray clouds — Ira Wolfert
clearing away the accumulation of centuries from the base of the pyramid — London Calling
the giant accumulations of stars known as galaxies — George Gamow
4. : the movement of a substance into a cell against a concentration gradient or from a lower to a higher potential for the specific substance — used especially of movement of ions into plant cells