accompaniment
n. C / Un. something that goes well with another thing, like a side dish for a meal or music played behind a singer.
n. something that supplements or complements another entity; in music, a subordinate part that supports a principal voice or instrument.
The steak comes with a delicious vegetable accompaniment.
The pianist provided a subtle accompaniment that allowed the soprano's voice to remain the focal point of the performance.
While the main course was impressive, the wine pairing served as a necessary accompaniment that balanced the richness of the sauce and cleansed the palate between bites.
From French accompagnement; equivalent to accompany + -ment. First attested in 1744.
Often takes the preposition 'to' when describing a relationship between two items.
an accompaniment for the songan accompaniment to the songWhile 'for' is sometimes heard, 'to' is the standard preposition used with accompaniment to show a complementary relationship.