accompaniment

/əˈkʌmp(ə)nɪmənt/

/əˈkʌmpənɪmənt/

Other forms: accompaniments

If your menu tonight consists of grilled pork and savory apples, then the pork is the main item and the apples are the accompaniment, meaning they complement the main dish.

The noun accompaniment entered English in the eighteenth century and originally was used in a musical sense to describe a part in a song that supports or acts as background for another more prominent part. Its meaning later expanded to include not only musical assistance but other things that completes or make better the main thing. You’ll often hear it used to describe a food that supports the main item on a plate.

Definitions of accompaniment

1. noun

   a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
   synonyms: backup, musical accompaniment, support

   types:

   descant, discant

   a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody

   vamp

   an improvised musical accompaniment

   type of:

   part, voice

   the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music
2. noun

   an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
   synonyms: attendant, co-occurrence, concomitant

   types:

   associate

   any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another

   background

   relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation

   type of:

   happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent

   an event that happens
3. noun

   the act of accompanying someone or something in order to protect them
   synonyms: escort

   types:

   convoy

   the act of escorting while in transit

   type of:

   protection

   the activity of protecting someone or something
4. noun

   something added to complete or embellish or make perfect
   “wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish”

   synonyms: complement

   type of:

   adjunct

   something added to another thing but not an essential part of it