accompaniment

Everyday

1. (music) An accompaniment is music played to support a singer or another instrument, like piano music behind a song. tree →
2. An accompaniment is something that goes well with something else, especially food: «Chips are a good accompaniment to fish.» tree →
3. «To the accompaniment of» means while a sound is going on: «to the accompaniment of cheers». tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons, the melody is the tune and the accompaniment supports it (chords, rhythm); a pianist accompanies the choir. In cooking and menus, sauces and side dishes are accompaniments. In stories, things happen «to the accompaniment of» thunder or laughter. Phrases: «piano accompaniment», «without accompaniment» (a cappella), «to the accompaniment of».

Examples

• The choir sang with a piano accompaniment. tree →
• Our teacher played the guitar accompaniment while we sang. tree →
• Gravy is the perfect accompaniment to roast beef. tree →
• The team walked out to the accompaniment of loud cheers. tree →
• She sang without accompaniment, all alone. tree →
• Rice is a tasty accompaniment to curry. tree →
• At these words Amina fetched a lute from a case of yellow satin and gave it to Sadie, who sang several songs to its accompaniment. tree →

Note

Countable. Long spelling: ac-com-pan-i-ment (the «y» of «accompany» changes to «i»). Verb: accompany; a person who plays it is an accompanist. Singing «a cappella» means without instrumental accompaniment.