ornament

American  

[awr-nuh-muhnt, awr-nuh-ment, -muhnt] / ˈɔr nə mənt, ˈɔr nəˌmɛnt, -mənt /

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.

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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 British  

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

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verb

1. to decorate with or as if with ornaments

2. to serve as an ornament to

Other Word Forms

• ornamentation
  noun
• ornamenter
  noun
• overornament
  verb (used with object)
• reornament
  verb (used with object)
• superornament
  verb (used with object)
• superornament
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ornament

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

Explanation

An ornament is a decoration. You can also ornament something by making it more beautiful or festive. The most common use of ornament is probably in Christmas ornaments, which decorate a tree. Similarly, any ornament makes something prettier, flashier, or more festive. When you ornament something, you're beautifying, embellishing, or adorning it. Women ornament themselves with makeup. Men ornament themselves with face paint at football games. People ornament their offices with pictures of their families. Different cultures have their own ways of ornamenting themselves and their homes. If something looks boring, why not ornament it?

Example Sentences

Ornament sales are a big source of revenue for the nonprofit, nonpartisan historical association, which was created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help pay for White House restoration and acquisition projects.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2022

The dozens of Whitney exhibitions that have featured his pieces most recently included “Order and Ornament: Roy Lichtenstein’s Entablatures” in 2019-20.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2022

Ornament — once an indicator of skill — can be seen by some as an indicator of bad taste.

From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2021

The Ornament of the World This two-hour special documents an era of medieval Spain when Muslims, Christians and Jews forged a common cultural identity that transcended religious differences.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2019

Ornament of roof-tile, found "on the gable of a small Greek church, that appears to have been on the site of 262 a temple" "in the gardens at Athens, beyond Mount Anchesmus."

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by Smith, A. H.

Related Words

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