ac·cu·mu·late

verb

OPAL W

/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they accumulate	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/
he / she / it accumulates	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪts/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪts/
past simple accumulated	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/
past participle accumulated	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/
-ing form accumulating	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪŋ/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪŋ/

[transitive] accumulate something to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time积累；积聚 synonym amass
- I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.我好像已经收集了很多书。
- By investing wisely she accumulated a fortune.她投资精明，积累了一笔财富。
- We have accumulated a great amount of evidence.我们已经积累了大量证据。
Synonyms collect
collectgather ▪ accumulate ▪ amassThese words all mean to get more of something over a period of time, or to increase in quantity over a period of time.
collect to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place:
We’ve been collecting data from various sources.我们一直从各种渠道收集资料。
Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.房间的角落里积满了灰尘。
People sometimes collect things of a particular type as a hobby: to collect stamps. gather to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources:
I waited while he gathered up his papers.他整理文件时我就在一旁等待。
Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.侦探们花了数月时间搜集证据。
collect or gather?Both collect and gather can be used in the same way to talk about bringing together data, information or evidence. When talking about things, gather is used with words like things, belongings or papers when the things are spread around within a short distance. Collect is used for getting examples of something from different people or places that are physically separated.
accumulate (rather formal) to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time:
I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.我好像已经收集了很多书。
Debts began to accumulate.债务开始增加。
amass (rather formal) to collect something in large quantities, especially money, debts or information:
He amassed a fortune from silver mining.他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。
Patterns
- to collect/gather/accumulate/amass data/evidence/information
- to accumulate/amass a fortune/debts
- dirt/dust/debris collects/accumulates
- to gradually/slowly collect/gather/accumulate (something)
Extra Examples
- Children gradually accumulate knowledge as they grow up.孩子在成长过程中，逐渐积累知识。
- the wealth he had accumulated over the years他多年来积累的财富
Topics Change, cause and effectc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- gradually
- slowly
- steadily
- …
verb + accumulate
- begin to
- be allowed to
- tend to
- …
phrases
- accumulate over the years
- accumulate over time
[intransitive] to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time（数量）逐渐增加；（数额）逐渐增长 synonym build up
- Debts began to accumulate.债务开始增加。
- Dust and dirt soon accumulate if a house is not cleaned regularly.房子如果不经常打扫，灰尘很快会越积越多。
Extra Examples
- Dirt must not be allowed to accumulate.绝对不可让灰尘积聚。
- Evidence began to accumulate, suggesting that the drug had harmful side-effects.证据开始积累，表明该药物具有有害的副作用。
- Toxic chemicals tend to accumulate in the body.有毒化学物质容易在体内聚积。
- seas and lakes where sedimentary deposits are slowly accumulating沉积物缓慢堆积的海洋和湖泊
Topics Change, cause and effectc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- gradually
- slowly
- steadily
- …
verb + accumulate
- begin to
- be allowed to
- tend to
- …
phrases
- accumulate over the years
- accumulate over time

Word Originlate 15th cent.: from Latin accumulat- ‘heaped up’, from the verb accumulare, from ad- ‘to’ + cumulus ‘a heap’.