accessory

An extra item that makes something more useful or attractive, such as a bag worn with clothes.

• Her scarf is a colourful accessory.
• I bought some accessories for my camera.
• Which accessories go with this dress?

Similar words: extra, add-on

Common phrases: fashion accessory, camera accessory, phone accessory, computer accessory

Someone who helps another person commit a crime or hide it without directly carrying it out.

• He was charged as an accessory to murder.
• She became an accessory by hiding the stolen money.
• The police questioned two suspected accessories.

How to use it: accessory to something (The court found him guilty of being an accessory to robbery.); accessory after the fact (She was charged as an accessory after the fact for hiding the stolen goods.)

Similar words: accomplice

Common phrases: accessory to murder, accessory to something, accessory after something

Providing extra help or serving a smaller role alongside something more important.

• The machine includes several accessory parts.
• These accessory structures help support the main organ.
• The accessory equipment improves the camera’s performance.

Similar words: additional, supplementary, secondary

Opposites: primary, main

Common phrases: accessory equipment, accessory function, accessory organ

Present in a small amount and not needed as a main part of something.

• This rock contains accessory minerals.
• The accessory crystals form only a small part of the sample.
• Zircon is an accessory mineral in some granites.

Similar words: minor, nonessential

Opposites: essential

Common phrases: accessory mineral, accessory constituent, accessory component