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ACCOMPANIMENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of accompanying someone or something in order to protect them
Synonyms:
accompaniment; escort
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("accompaniment" is a kind of...):
protection (the activity of protecting someone or something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "accompaniment"):
convoy (the act of escorting while in transit)
Derivation:
accompany (go or travel along with)
accompany (be a companion to somebody)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Something added to complete or embellish or make perfect
Example:
wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish
Synonyms:
accompaniment; complement
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("accompaniment" is a kind of...):
adjunct (something added to another thing but not an essential part of it)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
Synonyms:
accompaniment; backup; musical accompaniment; support
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("accompaniment" is a kind of...):
part; voice (the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "accompaniment"):
descant; discant (a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody)
vamp (an improvised musical accompaniment)
Derivation:
accompany (perform an accompaniment to)
Sense 4
Meaning:
An event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
Synonyms:
accompaniment; attendant; co-occurrence; concomitant
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("accompaniment" is a kind of...):
happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "accompaniment"):
associate (any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another)
background (relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation)
Derivation:
accompany (be present or associated with an event or entity)
Context examples:
And then, under this high-pitched, ringing sound there was another, more intermittent, a low, deep-chested laugh, a growling, throaty gurgle of merriment which formed a grotesque accompaniment to the shriek with which it was blended.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
In the other hand he held a bottle, which, from time to time, was inverted above his head to the accompaniment of gurgling noises.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
It was sheerly automatic, and his visioning was an unfailing accompaniment to the living present.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Then, Jane, you must play the accompaniment.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano, but she had a way of softly touching the yellow keys and making a pleasant accompaniment to the simple songs they sang.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Many a time I have shared between two claimants the precious morsel of brown bread distributed at tea-time; and after relinquishing to a third half the contents of my mug of coffee, I have swallowed the remainder with an accompaniment of secret tears, forced from me by the exigency of hunger.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
The event of the day—that is, the return of Diana and Mary—pleased him; but the accompaniments of that event, the glad tumult, the garrulous glee of reception irked him: I saw he wished the calmer morrow was come.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
