ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompousThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
2
: elaborately or excessively decorated
an ornate mantle
an ornate townhouse
ornate chandeliers
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry. an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace
Recent Examples on the Web The ornate silverwork bar — made by Sevillian jeweler Orfebre Villareal — is a true showstopper and the perfect place for a cocktail. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 More than just ornate, these corals are dynamic animals equipped with stinging cells and bioluminescence to fend off predators like nudibranchs and sea stars. Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 The most ornate of these boutique editions is the version decked in pavé diamonds on the dial. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2024 Inside, the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 At Diotima’s fall 2024 show during New York Fashion Week this month, a lacy white top was styled under a sharp blazer, and ornate crochet-work stood in for cutouts on dress shirts. Emilia Petrarca, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Mencken, the most eloquent of the reactionaries, put their cantankerous thoughts into ornate, often quite funny prose. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024 The process produces soot, which accumulates on the underside of the pan; the superfine powder is then collected and stored as kohl in ornate brass pots. Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Featuring an ornate, arched entryway, red-tiled roof and stucco facade, the timeless residence sits just off the beach with a private path leading to its 135 feet of shoreline. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ornate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near ornate

Cite this Entry

“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective
or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
: decorated in a fancy way
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ornate

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