Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 N‑COUNT The accompaniment to a song or tune is the music that is played at the same time as it and forms a background to it. □  He sang 'My Funny Valentine' to a piano accompaniment.

2 N‑COUNT An accompaniment is something which goes with another thing. □ [+ to ] This recipe makes a good accompaniment to ice-cream. ● PHRASE If one thing happens to the accompaniment of another, they happen at the same time. □  The team came out to the accompaniment of fireworks.

ac|com|pa|nist /əkʌ mpən I st/ (accompanists ) N‑COUNT An accompanist is a musician, especially a pianist, who plays one part of a piece of music while someone else sings or plays the main tune.

ac|com|pa|ny ◆◇◇ /əkʌ mpəni/ (accompanies , accompanying , accompanied )

1 VERB If you accompany someone, you go somewhere with them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Ken agreed to accompany me on a trip to Africa. □ [V -ed] The Prime Minister, accompanied by the governor, led the President up to the house.

2 VERB If one thing accompanies another, it happens or exists at the same time, or as a result of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] This volume of essays was designed to accompany an exhibition in Cologne.

3 VERB If you accompany a singer or a musician, you play one part of a piece of music while they sing or play the main tune. □ [V n] He sang and Alice accompanied him on the piano. SYNONYMS accompany VERB 1

escort:I escorted him to the door.

guide:He took the bewildered Elliott by the arm and guided him out.

lead:He took Dickon by the hand to lead him into the house.

usher:I ushered him into the office.

ac|com|pli /ækɒ mpliː/ → see fait accompli

ac|com|plice /əkʌ mpl I s, [AM ] əkɒ m-/ (accomplices ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's accomplice is a person who helps them to commit a crime. □  The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.

ac|com|plish /əkʌ mpl I ʃ, [AM ] əkɒ m-/ (accomplishes , accomplishing , accomplished ) VERB If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it. □ [V n] If we'd all work together, I think we could accomplish our goal. □ [be V -ed] They are sceptical about how much will be accomplished by legislation.

ac|com|plished /əkʌ mpl I ʃt, [AM ] əkɒ m-/ ADJ If someone is accomplished at something, they are very good at it. [FORMAL ] □  She is an accomplished painter.

ac|com|plish|ment /əkʌ mpl I ʃmənt, [AM ] əkɒ m-/ (accomplishments )

1 N‑COUNT An accomplishment is something remarkable that has been done or achieved. □  For a novelist, that's quite an accomplishment.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft poss N ] Your accomplishments are the things that you can do well or the important things that you have done. [FORMAL ]

ac|cord ◆◆◆ /əkɔː ^r d/ (accords , according , accorded )

1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] An accord between countries or groups of people is a formal agreement, for example to end a war. □  …a fitting way to celebrate the peace accord.

2 VERB If you are accorded a particular kind of treatment, people act towards you or treat you in that way. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed n] His predecessor was accorded an equally tumultuous welcome. □ [V n n] The government accorded him the rank of Colonel. □ [V -ed] The treatment accorded to a United Nations official was little short of insulting. [Also V n + to ]

3 VERB If one fact, idea, or condition accords with another, they are in agreement and there is no conflict between them. [FORMAL ] □ [V + with ] Such an approach accords with the principles of socialist ideology.