accompaniment
noun
Simple meaning
A part, usually performed by instruments, that gives support or adds to the background in music, or adds for ornamentation.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
uhkuhmpnihmuhntSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
əˈkʌmpnɪmənt
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
music
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.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: 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.
This noun specifically refers to the supporting musical part that complements a main melody or performer. It's a key term in music, much more precise than just 'background music.'
- Emotional tone
- Slightly positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Positive and appreciative
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Where you'll really hear it
Music class
“The piano provides the accompaniment for the singer.”
Concert reviews
“The orchestra's accompaniment was perfectly balanced.”
Practicing music
“I need to practice the vocal part with its accompaniment.”
Where it naturally appears
- Music/performance
- Arts writing
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.