ornament

¹or·na·ment

noun \ˈȯr-nə-mənt\

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

Examples of ORNAMENT

1. She wore a hair ornament.
2. The columns are there purely as ornament—they have no structural function.

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

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

²or·na·ment

transitive verb \-ˌment\

Definition of ORNAMENT

: to provide with ornament : embellish

Examples of ORNAMENT

1. flower patterns used to ornament boxes
2. <delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace>

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

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

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