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Definition of accessory noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

accessory

noun
 
/əkˈsesəri/
 
/əkˈsesəri/
(plural accessories)
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  1. [usually plural] an extra piece of equipment that is useful but not essential or that can be added to something else as a decoration
    • We stock a large range of bicycle accessories.
    • Our catalogue now includes a range of furnishings and accessories for the home.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • essential
    • must-have
    • optional
    See full entry
  2. [usually plural] a thing that you can wear or carry that matches your clothes, for example a belt or a bag
    • fashion accessories to dress up your wardrobe
    Extra Examples
    • Why not invest in some fashion accessories to dress up your wardrobe?
    • This silk scarf is the perfect accessory for stylish summer evenings.
    Topics Shoppingc1, Clothes and Fashionc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • essential
    • must-have
    • optional
    See full entry
  3. accessory (to something) (law) a person who helps somebody to commit a crime or who knows about it and protects the person from the police
    • He was charged with being an accessory to murder.
    • (old-fashioned) an accessory before/after the fact (= before/after the crime was committed)
    Topics Crime and punishmentc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition
    • accessory to
    phrases
    • an accessory before/​after the fact
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from medieval Latin accessorius ‘additional thing’, from Latin access- ‘increased’, from the verb accedere, from ad- ‘to’ + cedere ‘give way, yield’.
See accessory in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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