adorn

American  

[uh-dawrn] / əˈdɔrn /

verb (used with object)

1. to decorate or add beauty to, as by ornaments.

   garlands of flowers adorning their hair.

   Synonyms:

   array, bedizen, bedeck, deck, beautify

2. to make more pleasing, attractive, impressive, etc.; enhance.

   Piety adorned Abigail's character.

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adorn British  

/ əˈdɔːn /

verb

1. to decorate

   she adorned her hair with flowers

2. to increase the beauty, distinction, etc, of

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Other Word Forms

• adorner noun
• adorningly adverb
• adornment noun
• nonadorner noun
• nonadorning adjective
• overadorn verb (used with object)
• preadorn verb (used with object)
• readorn verb (used with object)
• readorning adjective
• self-adorning adjective
• superadorn verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of adorn

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English adornen, from Latin adōrnāre, equivalent to ad- ad- + ōrnāre “to dress” ( ornate ); replacing late Middle English aourne, from Middle French, from Latin

Example Sentences

Some Iranian embassies have yet to hang portraits of him even though images of Iran’s supreme leader typically adorn most rooms.

From The Wall Street Journal

The museum is adorned with the 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet and a glass hazarashen skylight, inspired by traditional roofs in homes across the Armenian Highlands.

From Los Angeles Times

The gate is adorned with a sculpted round medallion of Oseguera’s trademark, two roosters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chavez’s name also adorns buildings and departments across California college campuses, especially those focused on Latino communities, Chicano studies and labor studies.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dominicans celebrated home runs by posing with a dumbbell adorned with plantains.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beautify
• bedeck
• deck
• dress up
• embellish
• grace
• spruce up
• trim