decorate

[ dek-uh-reyt ]
See synonyms for: decoratedecorateddecorating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dec·o·rat·ed, dec·o·rat·ing.
  1. to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish: to decorate walls with murals.

  2. to plan and execute the design, furnishings, and ornamentation of the interior of (a house, office, apartment, etc.), especially by selecting colors, fabrics, and style of furniture, by making minor structural changes, etc.: Their house is decorated in French Provincial style.

  1. to confer distinction upon by a badge, a medal of honor, etc.: to decorate a soldier for valor.

Origin of decorate

1
1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) <Latin decorātus (past participle of decorāre), equivalent to decor- (stem of decus) an ornament, splendor, honor (see decent) + -ātus-ate1

Other words for decorate

Other words from decorate

  • o·ver·dec·o·rate, verb, o·ver·dec·o·rat·ed, o·ver·dec·o·rat·ing.
  • re·dec·o·rate, verb, re·dec·o·rat·ed, re·dec·o·rat·ing.
  • un·dec·o·rate, verb (used with object) un·dec·o·rat·ed, un·dec·o·rat·ing.

Words Nearby decorate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use decorate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for decorate

decorate

/ (ˈdɛkəˌreɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc

  2. to paint or wallpaper (a room, house, etc)

  1. (tr) to confer a mark of distinction, esp a military medal, upon

  2. (tr) to evaporate a metal film onto (a crystal) in order to display dislocations in structure

Origin of decorate

1
C16: from Latin decorāre, from decus adornment; see decent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012