accumulate
ac·cu·mu·late
/əˈkjuːmjəˌleıt/ verb , -lates, -lat·ed, -lat·ing
1 [ + obj ] : to gather or acquire (something) gradually as time passes
She has slowly accumulated [=amassed] a fortune.
You can accumulate [=earn] bonus points by participating in surveys.
The police have been accumulating [=collecting] evidence of his guilt.
2 [ no obj ] : to increase gradually in amount as time passes
A large amount of debris has accumulated [=collected] at the construction site.
Evidence of his guilt is accumulating.
ac·cu·mu·la·tion /əˌkjuːmjəˈleıʃən/ noun , pl -tions [ noncount ]
the accumulation of evidence against him
[ count ]
The company's goal was a slow, steady accumulation of profits.
The disease is caused by accumulations of fat in the kidneys.
