accrete

verb

ac·​crete ə-ˈkrēt How to pronounce accrete (audio)
accreted; accreting

intransitive verb

: to grow or become attached by accretion

transitive verb

: to cause to adhere or become attached
also : accumulate

Examples of accrete in a Sentence

silt accreting at the mouth of the river over time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Discovery of extreme quasi-periodic eruptions in a newly accreting massive black hole Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025 Discovery of extreme quasi-periodic eruptions in a newly accreting massive black hole. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 Type Ia supernova explosions spur the destruction of white dwarf stars that have accreted too much mass. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2025 That means that as a galaxy ages, the supernova deaths of stars are depositing less and less gas in the vicinity of the central accreting supermassive black hole. Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accrete

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from accretion

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of accrete was in 1712

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrete. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

accrete

verb
ac·​crete ə-ˈkrēt How to pronounce accrete (audio)
accreted; accreting

intransitive verb

: to grow or become attached by accretion

transitive verb

: to cause to adhere or become attached
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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