What is the difference between cumulate and accumulate ?
This is a tough question since both words (cumulate and accumulate) are close in meaning.
Many English users, even native learners, are often confused about the two adjectives, cumulative and accumulative.
Both words mean growth or increase. BUT, there is a subtle difference between them. Cumulative refers to growth or increase by successive additions. That is, someone is adding more to something, one thing after another. This means, often, that the end result comes from having something build up over time, bit by bit.
The word accumulative refers to a gradual increase or growth over time. A good example is gaining weight. We do not gain weight by suddenly adding 1 kilogram and then another 1 kilogram. We gain weight gradually, over time.
The cumulative affects of 3 years of drought was a famine since there were no bountiful harvests.
The snow kept falling for two days, so it accumulated over time and reached 2 meters.
Cumulate and accumulate both refer to the build of of something. That thing can be physical or non-physical like information. The difference is accumulate is a more intentional gathering while cumulate means to gather together what you already have.
We need to cumulate the information we have from that project.
The man accumulated a lot of rare items.
Accumulate Vs cumulate
Is the collection of information/data over some time (not instantly)
The word accumulate is less common or frequently used. Also, it means to heap up or pile up.
Examples:
A pile of books=I have accumulated all these books over the last three years.