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accretion

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accretion

In astrophysics, process by which an object gathers up surrounding material by gravitational attraction, thus simultaneously increasing in mass and releasing gravitational energy. Accretion onto compact objects, such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, can release large amounts of gravitational energy and is believed to be the power source for active galaxies. Accreted material falling towards a star may form a swirling disc of material known as an accretion disc that can be a source of X-rays. Earth, and other planetary bodies in the Solar System, are thought to have formed by accretion of nebular material and planetesimals.



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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
She had no fear of the shadows; her sole idea seemed to be to shun mankind--or rather that cold accretion called the world, which, so terrible in the mass, is so unformidable, even pitiable, in its units.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles - A Pure Woman by Hardy, Thomas View in context
The immense accretion of flesh which had descended on her in middle life like a flood of lava on a doomed city had changed her from a plump active little woman with a neatly-turned foot and ankle into something as vast and august as a natural phenomenon.
The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith View in context
of pains and inconveniences, which grows by geometrical accretion.
The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas, Alexandre View in context
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