accretionary wedge

noun

The accumulation of surface sediment formed between a subducting oceanic crustal plate and a continental tectonic plate, as it is scraped from off the top of the oceanic crustal plate.

Similar
accretionary prism
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Meanings

nounaccretionary wedge (plural accretionary wedges)

plural accretionary wedges

  1. geographyThe accumulation of surface sediment formed between a subducting oceanic crustal plate and a continental tectonic plate, as it is scraped from off the top of the oceanic crustal plate.

    Synonyms: accretionary prism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe accumulation of surface sediment formed between a subducting oceanic crustal plate and a continental tectonic plate, as it is scraped from off the top of the oceanic crustal plate.

Similar
accretionary prism
Also see
accretionary prism
Cite this entry
APA

accretionary wedge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accretionary%20wedge

MLA

“accretionary wedge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accretionary%20wedge. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “accretionary wedge,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/accretionary%20wedge.

Source: accretionary wedge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.