First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
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
1
archaic : a useful accessory
2
a : something that lends grace or beauty b : a manner or quality that adorns
3
: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society
4
: the act of adorning or being adorned
5
: 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
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
See ornament defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ORNAMENT
1656
Related to ORNAMENT
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>.
Rhymes with ORNAMENT
accident, aliment, Blaenau Gwent, circumvent, compartment, complement, compliment, confident, devilment, diffident, discontent, document, evident, heaven-sent, implement, incident, instrument, Jack-a-Lent, malcontent, nonevent, Occident, orient, provident, regiment, reinvent, represent, re-present, resident, Saint-Laurent, sediment, self-content, subsequent, supplement
ORNAMENT Defined for Kids
1ornament
noun or·na·ment \ˈȯr-nə-mənt\
Definition of ORNAMENT for Kids
: something that adds beauty : decoration <a Christmas tree ornament>
2ornament
verb or·na·ment \ˈȯr-nə-ˌment\
or·na·ment·edor·na·ment·ing
Definition of ORNAMENT for Kids
: decorate 1
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