ornament

[ noun awr-nuh-muhnt; verb awr-nuh-ment, -muhnt ]

noun

1. an accessory, article, or detail used to beautify the appearance of something to which it is added or of which it is a part:

   architectural ornaments.

   Synonyms: embellishment

2. a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation:

   a book on Gothic ornament.

3. any adornment or means of adornment.

   Synonyms: decoration

4. a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.
5. the act of adorning.

   Synonyms: decoration

6. the state of being adorned.
7. mere outward display:

   a speech more of ornament than of ideas.

8. Chiefly Ecclesiastical. any accessory, adjunct, or equipment.
9. Music. a tone or group of tones applied as decoration to a principal melodic tone.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with ornaments; embellish:

   to ornament a musical composition.

   Synonyms: grace, adorn, decorate

2. to be an ornament to:

   Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.

   Synonyms: grace, adorn, decorate

ornament

noun

1. anything that enhances the appearance of a person or thing
2. decorations collectively

   she was totally without ornament

3. a small decorative object
4. something regarded as a source of pride or beauty
5. music any of several decorations, such as the trill, mordent, etc, occurring chiefly as improvised embellishments in baroque music

verb

1. to decorate with or as if with ornaments
2. to serve as an ornament to

Derived Forms

• ˌornamenˈtation, noun

Other Words From

• orna·menter noun
• over·orna·ment verb (used with object)
• re·orna·ment verb (used with object)
• super·orna·ment noun
• super·orna·ment verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornament¹

1175–1225; < Latin ornāmentum equipment, ornament, equivalent to ornā ( re ) to equip + -mentum -ment; replacing Middle English ornement < Old French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornament¹

C14: from Latin ornāmentum, from ornāre to adorn

Example Sentences

McConnell soon followed, beaming like an ornament atop a Christmas tree.

From The Daily Beast

It is your ornament, your grace, your seduction, your chant for courting.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Pic: Silversmith Sakurako Shimizu makes ornament from exclamations.

From The Daily Beast

She inspired the designer to craft a brilliant silver minidress with a lightning-bolt head ornament.

From The Daily Beast

She was examining the ornament on the back of which was carved a miniature bar of music, with three or four notes.

From Project Gutenberg

Meantime the court receives the rents; the garden, the chief ornament of the town, is running wild, and the house is deserted.

From Project Gutenberg

The trees are sometimes prettily arranged in alleys, but are planted far less for ornament than for use.

From Project Gutenberg

She was dressed in a high-necked dress of black lace, and wore in her corsage a large circular ornament of diamonds and emeralds.

From Project Gutenberg

Three clubs, which look from without to be very comfortable, ornament this square with their gas-lamps.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessory
• adornment
• art
• bauble
• embroidery
• flower
• jewel
• knickknack
• treasure
• trinket