ac·cu·mu·late [ ə kymyə làyt ](past and past participleac·cu·mu·lat·ed, present participleac·cu·mu·lat·ing, 3rd person present singularac·cu·mu·lates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb collect: to collect or obtain a large amount of something over a period of time The magazines she had accumulated over 20 years filled the shelves. The report suggests that the herbicide accumulates in the soil.
2. intransitive verb increase: to gather, grow, or increase over a period of time
[15th century. < Latin accumulat-, past participle of accumulare "heap up in addition" < cumulus "heap"]