Accretion

Accretion (Latin Accretio "increase " ) means " growth by accretion " and refers to:

The growth of an astronomical object, see accretion (Astronomy)
The growth of a particle in meteorology, see for example droplet growth in warm clouds
The growth of the national territory, see accretion ( right )
The growth of tectonic lithospheric plates in the plate tectonic convergence, see accretion (geology)