Accessories are items of equipment that are not usually essential, but which can be used with or added to something else in order to make it more efficient, useful, or decorative.
...an exclusive range of hand-made bedroom and bathroom accessories.
Synonyms: extra, addition, supplement, convenience More Synonyms of accessory
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Accessories are articles such as belts and scarves which you wear or carry but which are not part of your main clothing.
3. countable noun
If someone is guilty of being an accessoryto a crime, they helped the person who committed it, or knew it was being committed but did not tell the police.
[law]
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds. [+ to]
Synonyms: accomplice, partner, ally, associate More Synonyms of accessory
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use accessory to describe something which is part of an activity or process, but not the most essential or important part of it.
[formal]
Forster established that minerals are accessory food factors required for maintaininglife.
Synonyms: supplementary, aiding, extra, additional More Synonyms of accessory
More Synonyms of accessory
accessory in British English
(əkˈsɛsərɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
1.
a supplementary part or object, as of a car, appliance, etc
2. (often plural)
a small accompanying item of dress, esp of women's dress
3.
a person who incites someone to commit a crime or assists the perpetrator of a crime, either before or during its commission
adjective
4.
supplementary; additional; subordinate
5.
assisting in or having knowledge of an act, esp a crime
Derived forms
accessorial (ˌæksɛˈsɔːrɪəl)
adjective
accessorily (acˈcessorily)
adverb
accessoriness (acˈcessoriness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Late Latin accessōrius: see access
accessory in American English
(ækˈsesəri) (nounplural -ries)
noun
1.
a subordinate or supplementary part, object, or the like, used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety, etc., as a spotlight on an automobile or a lens cover on a camera
2.
an article or set of articles of dress, as gloves, earrings, or a scarf, that adds completeness, convenience, attractiveness, etc., to one'sbasic outfit
3. Law
a. Also called: accessory before the fact
a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony
b. Also called: accessory after the fact
a person who knowingly conceals or assists another who has committed a felony
Compare "> principal (sense 9b)
4. Anatomy See accessory nerve
adjective
5.
contributing to a general effect; supplementary; subsidiary
6. Law
giving aid as an accessory
7. Mineralogy
noting any mineral whose presence in a rock has no bearing on the classification of the rock, as zircon in granite
Derived forms
accessorily
adverb
accessoriness
noun
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME accessorie (‹ MF) ‹ ML accessōrius. See accede, -tory1]
Examples of 'accessory' in a sentence
accessory
It has expanded to include a range of accessories and scooters for adults.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Accessories can make a plain outfit look unique and pulled together.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were then asked to choose various items to buy from a list, including clothes, office accessories and other products.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Getting the scale of decorative accessories right is also crucial.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We want to encourage the view of bicycles as a tool rather than a fashion accessory.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Selling cars and selling car accessories are clearly two very different things.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Pick one colour and make your accessories match.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Stores have been reduced in size and refurbished to focus more on home appliances and accessories.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He also offered other bathroom accessories and household goods.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You will notice that these items are all accessories.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She also has a range of accessories.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Harden up pretty dresses with tough accessories.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is an essential accessory for any testy superpower rivalry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was a recognition that accessories were as important as clothes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Think slick lifestyle accessories and sleek clothes for men and women.
The Sun (2014)
All products can be bought from most car accessory outlets.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What items count as accessories depends very much on your point of view.
Freeman, Michael Collins Complete Guide to Photography (1993)
Recently they have launched a range of colourful accessories to appeal to woodwind players.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But then so did anybody whose dress and accessories matched too much.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is quality of life an accessory?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quirky accessories make for a stylish January night out.
The Sun (2015)
A few made the corgis an essential accessory.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This applies whether or not the accessories are used, and regardless of them being attached to the car permanently or not.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A Vatican computer technician was indicted as an accessory after the fact.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
accessory
British English: accessory /əkˈsɛsərɪ/ NOUN
Accessories are extra parts added to something to make it more useful or decorative.
...bathroom accessories.
American English: accessory
Arabic: مُلْحَق
Brazilian Portuguese: acessório
Chinese: 附件
Croatian: dodatak
Czech: doplněk
Danish: tilbehør
Dutch: accessoire
European Spanish: complemento
Finnish: lisävaruste
French: accessoire
German: Zubehör
Greek: εξάρτημα
Italian: accessorio
Japanese: 付属物
Korean: 부속물
Norwegian: tilbehør
Polish: akcesoria
European Portuguese: acessório
Romanian: accesoriu
Russian: аксессуар
Latin American Spanish: accesorio
Swedish: accessoar
Thai: เครื่องประดับ
Turkish: aksesuar
Ukrainian: аксесуар
Vietnamese: phụ kiện
Chinese translation of 'accessory'
accessory
(ækˈsɛsərɪ)
n(c)
(for room, car) 附件 (fùjiàn) (个(個), gè)
(Clothing) 饰(飾)品 (shìpǐn) (件, jiàn)
(Law)
an accessory to the crime犯罪同谋(謀) (fànzuì tóngmóu) (个(個), gè)
1 (noun)
Definition
a supplementary part or object
an exclusive range of bathroom accessories
Synonyms
extra
Optional extras including cooking tuition.
addition
This book is a worthy addition to the series.
supplement
I had to pay a single room supplement.
convenience
attachment
Some models come with attachments for dusting.
add-on
component
extension
the new extension to London's National Gallery
adjunct
Physical therapy is an important adjunct to drug treatments.
appendage
A clever extension can create a modern appendage to the home.
appurtenance
2 (noun)
Definition
a small item, such as a bag or belt, worn or carried by someone to complete his or her outfit
Her accessories include ear-rings, a necklace and a handbag.
Synonyms
adornment
a building without any adornment or decoration
trimming
the lace trimming on her satin nightgown
trim
a white satin scarf with black trim
decoration
He played a part in the decoration of the tree.
ornament
Christmas tree ornaments
accompaniment
The recipe makes a good accompaniment to ice-cream.
frill
festoon
festoons of laurel and magnolia
embellishment
Florence is full of buildings with bits of decoration and embellishment.
3 (noun)
Definition
a person who is involved in a crime but who was not present when it took place
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.
Synonyms
accomplice
His accomplice was arrested after a high-speed car chase.
partner
They were partners in crime.
ally
She is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
associate
the restaurant owner's business associates
assistant
He had been accompanied to the meeting by an assistant.
helper
Younger children may need a helper.
colleague
Three of my colleagues have been made redundant.
collaborator
She was an important collaborator on that novel.
confederate
The conspirators were joined by their confederates.
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person
abettor
help
a hired help
aid
A young man employed as an aid spoke.
(adjective)
Minerals are accessory food factors required in maintaining health.
Synonyms
supplementary
the question of whether or not we need to take supplementary vitamins
aiding
extra
Extra staff have been taken on to cover busy periods.
additional
Additional troops have been sent to the region.
accompanying
She was in an accompanying car driven by a friend.
secondary
subordinate
It was an art in which words were subordinate to images.
complementary
assisting in
auxiliary
the army and auxiliary forces
abetting
supplemental
contributory
ancillary
Ancillary services like cleaning are put up for competitive tender.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accompaniment
Definition
something that accompanies something else
The recipe makes a good accompaniment to ice-cream.
Synonyms
supplement,
extra,
addition,
extension,
companion,
accessory,
complement,
decoration,
frill,
adjunct,
appendage,
adornment
in the sense of accompanying
She was in an accompanying car driven by a friend.