¹ornament

noun or·na·ment \ˈȯr-nə-mənt\

: a small, fancy object that is put on something else to make it more attractive

: a way to make something look more attractive and less plain

Full Definition of ORNAMENT

archaic : a useful accessory

a : something that lends grace or beauty

b : a manner or quality that adorns

: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society

: the act of adorning or being adorned

: an embellishing note not belonging to the essential harmony or melody —called also embellishment, fioritura

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Origin of ORNAMENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French urnement, ornement, from Latin ornamentum, from ornare

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ORNAMENT

Synonyms: adornment, beautifier, caparison, doodad, embellisher, embellishment, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, decoration, ornamentation, setoff, trim

²ornament

verb or·na·ment \-ˌment\

: to make (something) more attractive by adding small objects to it

Full Definition of ORNAMENT

transitive verb

: to provide with ornament : embellish

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First Known Use of ORNAMENT

1656

Related to ORNAMENT

Synonyms: adorn, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, blazon, caparison, deck, do, doll up, do up, drape, dress, embellish, emblaze, emboss, enrich, fancify, fancy up, festoon, garnish, glitz (up), grace, gussy up, decorate, pretty (up), trim

Antonyms: blemish, deface, disfigure, mar, scar, spoil

Synonym Discussion of ORNAMENT

adorn, decorate, ornament, embellish, beautify, deck, garnish mean to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential. adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself <a diamond necklace adorned her neck>. decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design <decorate a birthday cake>. ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original <a white house ornamented with green shutters>, embellish often stressing the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament <embellish a page with floral borders>. beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness <will beautify the grounds with flower beds>. deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness <a house all decked out for Christmas>. garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food <an entrée garnished with parsley>.