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

Hakimi attended training, adorned by a neck warmer, and being the first choice right back would normally line up on Wednesday for the game.

From Barron's

"Thank god. That was really fun, I was really looking forward to this," Hodgkinson told the crowd, before being adorned with a golden crown as she took her place on a throne beside the track.

From BBC

In a showroom targeting the US market, images of cowboy hats, military tanks and whiskey adorned display shelves.

From Barron's

Cars on PCH raced past pink and red posters adorned with flowers and fixed to the construction fence.

From Los Angeles Times

Upon walking in, guests are wowed by the white walls adorned in art, the soaring ceilings, and the elegant wooden staircase.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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