ornamentation

[ awr-nuh-men-tey-shuhn, ‑muhn‑ ]

noun

1. the act of ornamenting.
2. the state of being ornamented. ornamented.
3. something with which a thing is ornamented; ornamented; embellishment.
4. ornaments collectively.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornamentation¹

First recorded in 1850–1855

Example Sentences

The fossilized specimen is about 11 meters long, and its skull is heavily ornamented with crests and bumps and tiny hornlets, ornamentations that probably helped attract mates.

From Science News

In a paper published in Scientific Reports, we conclude that the burial of such a young female with abundant ornamentation reflects a degree of egalitarian treatment of individuals in life and death regardless of age or sex.

From Nautilus

It was suggested by a group of scientists in the early 1960s who noted that the traits of sexual selection, such as ornamentation and weaponry, also occurred in non-sexual contexts.

From Popular-Science

It helps to know that William “Basher” Dowsing was a 17th-century Puritan who set out to strip ornamentation he found improper from buildings in southeastern Britain.

From Washington Post

A small pine tree, shorn of lights and ornamentation and about the height of a child, stood encased in clear acrylic so its roots would show in the soil.

From Time

Multi-story hotel towers stand stripped of any ornamentation, and seem almost Soviet in their austere and honest decay.

From The Daily Beast

To create her pieces she asked herself what could ever take the place of much-loved books as domestic ornamentation.

From The Daily Beast

For women, that means “conservative” braids are allowed only if there are no beads or ornamentation.

From The Daily Beast

It is not unlikely that the houses of wealthy persons were distinguished by a good deal of ornamentation in carving and painting.

From Project Gutenberg

A considerable effort at ornamentation has been made on the walls flanking the balcony described.

From Project Gutenberg

Since these portions of their anatomy were uncovered, the singular ornamentation was very prominent.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, from its ornamentation, the stool would seem to go more fittingly with the very elegant piano shown in Figure 92.

From Project Gutenberg

The faces of all three are painted on tin, the two Bristol clocks having ornamentation of gold in the corners.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• embellishment