garnish

¹gar·nish

transitive verb \ˈgär-nish\

Definition of GARNISH

1

a : decorate, embellish

b : to add decorative or savory touches to (food or drink)

2

: to equip with accessories : furnish

3

: garnishee

Examples of GARNISH

1. Chocolate curls garnished the cake.
2. <a chef who never served any dish without first garnishing it>

Origin of GARNISH

Middle English, from Anglo-French garniss-, stem of garnir to warn, equip, garnish, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German warnōn to take heed — more at warn

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GARNISH

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

blemish, deface, disfigure, mar, scar, spoil

Related Words

accessorize, dress up, trap, trick (out); brighten, freshen, smarten, spruce (up); boss, chase; braid, embroider, feather, figure, filigree, fillet, flounce, frill, fringe, furbelow, garland, hang, lace, ribbon, swag, wreathe; appliqué, gild, paint; diamond, gem, impearl, jewel, pearl; redecorate, redo

Near Antonyms

simplify, streamline; bare, denude, dismantle, display, divest, expose, reveal, strip, uncover; uglify

See Synonym Discussion at adorn

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with GARNISH

tarnish, varnish

²garnish

noun

Definition of GARNISH

1

: embellishment, ornament

2

: something (as lemon wedges or parsley) used to garnish food or drink

3

a : an unauthorized fee formerly extorted from a new inmate of an English jail

b : a similar payment required of a new worker

Examples of GARNISH

1. <added a garnish of parsley to the plate before serving it>

First Known Use of GARNISH

1596

Related to GARNISH

Synonyms

adornment, beautifier, caparison, doodad, embellisher, embellishment, frill, decoration, garnishment, garniture, ornament, ornamentation, setoff, trim

Related Words

apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou; fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle; enhancement, enrichment, improvement; appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork; bedizenment, gilt, glitter; design, figure, pattern; furnishings, regalia, trappings

Near Antonyms

blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar; blot, spot, stain

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel