What is the term used to describe land that builds up gradually due to the action of water?

The correct term for land that accumulates gradually due to the action of water is accretion. This process involves the natural addition of sediment or soil to the land as a result of the movement of water, such as rivers or ocean currents depositing material over time. As this sediment builds up, it increases the size of the land area, leading to a gradual reclamation of land.

Alluvion refers to the material that is deposited by flowing water, and while it is related to the process of forming land through sedimentation, it denotes the depositing material rather than the land formation itself. Reliction involves the exposure of land that was previously covered by water due to a decrease in the water level, where land becomes visible as water retreats but does not specifically describe the gradual buildup of land. Erosion, on the other hand, refers to the wearing away of land and soil, which is contrary to the process of land accumulation through accretion. Understanding these definitions clarifies why accretion is the most appropriate term for the process of land build-up through the action of water.