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Clothing vs Accessory - What's the difference?

clothing | accessory |

As nouns the difference between clothing and accessory

is that clothing is any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to preserve modesty, or for fashion while accessory is something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.

As a verb clothing

is present participle of lang=en.

As an adjective accessory is

having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or being contributory. Said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music.

clothing

English

Verb

(head)
  • Noun

  • Any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to preserve modesty, or for fashion.
  • * Milton
  • From others he shall stand in need of nothing, / Yet on his brothers shall depend for clothing .
  • An act or instance of putting clothes on.
  • The clothing and unclothing of the idols was of special significance.
  • (obsolete) The art of process of making cloth.
  • * Ray
  • Instructing [refugees] in the art of clothing .
  • A covering of non-conducting material on the outside of a boiler, or steam chamber, to prevent radiation of heat.
  • (Knight)
    Hyponyms
    * See also

    See also

    (clothing related terms) * belt * bra * briefs * blouse * cap * coat * clothe * dress * gloves * halter * hat * jacket * mittens * muffler * pants * shirt * shoes * shorts * socks * sox * stocking * swimsuit * tie * tuxedo * underwear

    accessory

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (noun) accessary

    Etymology 1

    First attested in 1550s. From (etyl) accessorie , from (etyl) accessus. Compare English access, from same root.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or being contributory. Said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory'' to the riot; ''accessory sounds in music.
  • (legal) Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself.
  • Present in a minor amount, and not essential.
  • Synonyms
    * (having a secondary function) accompanying, contributory, auxiliary, subsidiary, subservient, additional, acceding
    Derived terms
    * accessory breathing

    Etymology 2

    * (legal) First attested in 1414. * (fashion) First attested in 1896.

    Noun

    (accessories)
  • Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.
  • the accessories of a mobile phone
  • * (rfdate) :
  • the aspect and accessories of a den of banditti
  • (fashion) An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves.
  • (legal) A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator.
  • (art) Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts.
  • Synonyms
    * (one who assists in or instigates an offense) abettor, accomplice, ally, coadjutor, accessary
    Derived terms
    * accessory before the fact * accessory after the fact

    References

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