What does it mean if something is described as being of cumulative nature?

Describing something as being of a cumulative nature indicates that it builds up or accumulates over time. This concept often applies to various contexts, such as knowledge, experiences, or even physical quantities. For instance, in education, cumulative knowledge refers to the understanding that students gain step by step, with each lesson adding to their overall mastery of the subject. Similarly, in financial contexts, cumulative interest refers to interest that is added to the principal amount, which in turn earns further interest. Thus, the correct understanding here is that cumulative elements are characterized by their tendency to grow progressively as they are added to over a duration, reinforcing the concept that they accumulate rather than diminish or remain static.