An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A physical process that is contrary to accretion, referring to the outward direction of the mass flow from a star to its environment.

See also: From → de- “reversal, removal,” + -cretion, from L. accretionem (nom. accretio, gen. accretionis) “a growing larger,” from stem of accrescere, → accretion.