accompaniment

Plural: accompaniments

Noun

• an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
• a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
• something added to complete or embellish or make perfect
  • "wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish"
• the act of accompanying someone or something in order to protect them
• 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.
• 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.

Examples

• A side salad is a common accompaniment to a main dish.
• Brooks performed a saxophone solo on stage, with Robert as accompaniment on the bass.

Synonyms

attendant, backup, co-occurrence, complement, concomitant, escort, musical accompaniment, support, accessory, accompaniment, add-on, addition, adjunct, affix, annex, apanage, appendage, appendix, attachment, comping, extra, increase, increment, supplement