An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or explains another noun or noun phrase. It's placed directly next to the noun it's describing and is often set off by commas.
Example:
* "My friend, a talented musician, played the piano beautifully."
In this sentence, "a talented musician" is the appositive that renames the noun "friend". It's set off by commas, providing a clear context clue for understanding the meaning of "friend".