What is what does cumulative mean?

Cumulative means the total accumulation of something over time, or the accumulated result of multiple additions or accumulations. It refers to a process in which something is added together over a period of time, resulting in a larger and larger total. For example, if a student's grades are cumulative, it means that each new grade affects their overall average, and the final grade is the result of all the grades added together. Similarly, cumulative interest on a loan means that interest is added to the principal over time, resulting in a larger total amount owed.