accretion

Noun

• (law) an increase in a beneficiary's share in an estate (as when a co-beneficiary dies or fails to meet some condition or rejects the inheritance)

• (geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment

• (biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles

• (astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases

• something contributing to growth or increase
  • he scraped away the accretions of paint
    
  • the central city surrounded by recent accretions
    

• an increase by natural growth or addition