accompaniment
A part, usually performed by instruments, that gives support or adds to the background in music, or adds for ornamentation; also, the harmony of a figured bass.
Example
“Brooks performed a saxophone solo on stage, with Robert as accompaniment on the bass.”
Other meanings
That which accompanies; something that attends as a circumstance, or which is added to give greater completeness to the principal thing, or by way of ornament, or for the sake of symmetry.
“A side salad is a common accompaniment to a main dish.”
Synonyms
- musical accompaniment
- backup
- support
Related words
- accompanimental
- nonaccompaniment
- additional accompaniment
Word history
From French "accompagnement".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “accompaniment” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.