Standard Lemma guide

bioaccumulate

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To accumulate in a biological system over time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: often

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gweyh3-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- Proto-Indo-European *h2éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh1- Proto-Indo-European *ḱuh1mósder.? Latin cumulus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin cumulō Latin accumulō Latin accumulātusbor. Middle English accumylaten English accumulate English bioaccumulate From bio- + accumulate.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: bioakkumulieren — to accumulate in a biological system
  • Korean: 생물농축되다 (saengmullongchukdoeda) — to accumulate in a biological system
  • Portuguese: bioacumular — to accumulate in a biological system
  • Russian: бѝоаккумули́ровать (bìoakkumulírovatʹ) — to accumulate in a biological system
  • Spanish: bioacumular — to accumulate in a biological system
  • Ukrainian: бі̀оаккуму́лювати (bìoakkumúljuvaty) — to accumulate in a biological system