ac|cu|mu|late /əkjuː mjʊle I t/ (accumulates , accumulating , accumulated ) VERB When you accumulate things or when they accumulate , they collect or are gathered over a period of time. □ [V n] Households accumulate wealth across a broad spectrum of assets. □ [V ] Lead can accumulate in the body until toxic levels are reached.
ac|cu|mu|la|tion /əkjuː mjʊle I ʃ ə n/ (accumulations )
1 N‑COUNT An accumulation of something is a large number of things which have been collected together or acquired over a period of time. □ [+ of ] …an accumulation of experience and knowledge.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Accumulation is the collecting together of things over a period of time. □ [+ of ] …the accumulation of capital and the distribution of income.
ac|cu|mu|la|tive /əkjuː mjʊlət I v, [AM ] -le I t I v/ ADJ If something is accumulative, it becomes greater in amount, number, or intensity over a period of time. □ The consensus is that risk factors have an accumulative effect.
ac|cu|ra|cy /æ kjʊrəsi/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The accuracy of information or measurements is their quality of being true or correct, even in small details. □ [+ of ] We cannot guarantee the accuracy of these figures.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with N ] If someone or something performs a task, for example hitting a target, with accuracy , they do it in an exact way without making a mistake. □ …weapons that could fire with accuracy at targets 3,000 yards away.
ac|cu|rate ◆◇◇ /æ kjʊrət/
1 ADJ Accurate information, measurements, and statistics are correct to a very detailed level. An accurate instrument is able to give you information of this kind. □ Police have stressed that this is the most accurate description of the killer to date. □ Quartz timepieces are very accurate, to a minute or two per year. ● ac|cu|rate|ly ADV □ The test can accurately predict what a bigger explosion would do.
2 ADJ An accurate statement or account gives a true or fair judgment of something. □ It is too early to give an accurate assessment of his condition. □ They were accurate in their prediction that he would change her life drastically. ● ac|cu|rate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ What many people mean by the word 'power' could be more accurately described as 'control'.
3 ADJ You can use accurate to describe the results of someone's actions when they do or copy something correctly or exactly. □ Marks were given for accurate spelling and punctuation.
4 ADJ An accurate weapon or throw reaches the exact point or target that it was intended to reach. You can also describe a person as accurate if they fire a weapon or throw something in this way. □ The rifle was extremely accurate. ● ac|cu|rate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the technology to aim bombs accurately from aircraft.
ac|curs|ed /əkɜː r s I d, əkɜː r st/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Some people use accursed to describe something which they are very annoyed about. [OLD-FASHIONED , FEELINGS ]
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a person is accursed , they have been cursed. [LITERARY ]
ac|cu|sa|tion /æ kjʊze I ʃ ə n/ (accusations )
1 N‑VAR [oft N that] If you make an accusation against someone, you criticize them or express the belief that they have done something wrong. □ Kim rejects accusations that Country music is over-sentimental.
2 N‑COUNT [N that] An accusation is a statement or claim by a witness or someone in authority that a particular person has committed a crime, although this has not yet been proved. □ [+ of ] …people who have made public accusations of rape.
ac|cu|sa|tive /əkjuː zət I v/ N‑SING In the grammar of some languages, the accusative , or the accusative case , is the case used for a noun when it is the direct object of a verb, or the object of some prepositions. In English, only the pronouns 'me', 'him', 'her', 'us', and 'them' are in the accusative. Compare nominative .
ac|cu|sa|tory /əkjuː zətəri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ An accusatory look, remark, or tone of voice suggests blame or criticism. [WRITTEN ] □ …the accusatory tone of the questions.
ac|cuse ◆◆◇ /əkjuː z/ (accuses , accusing , accused )
1 VERB If you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did it. □ [V n + of ] He was accusing my mum of having an affair with another man. □ [V ] Talk things through in stages. Do not accuse or apportion blame. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you are accused of a crime, a witness or someone in authority states or claims that you did it, and you may be formally charged with it and put on trial. □ [be V -ed + of ] Her assistant was accused of theft and fraud by the police. □ [V n + of ] All seven charges accused him of lying in his testimony. □ [V -ed] The accused men have been given relatively light sentences. [Also V n]
3 → see also accused , accusing
4 PHRASE If someone stands accused of something, they have been accused of it. □ [+ of ] The candidate stands accused of breaking promises even before he's in office. SYNONYMS accuse VERB
1
blame: If it wasn't Sam's fault, why was I blaming him?
allege: It was alleged that the restaurant discriminated against black customers.