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View synonyms for decorate

decorate

[dek-uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

decorated, decorating 
  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.

  3. to confer distinction upon by a badge, a medal of honor, etc..

    to decorate a soldier for valor.



decorate

/ ˈdɛkəˌreɪt /

verb

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

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

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

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

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • overdecorate verb
  • redecorate verb
  • undecorate verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of decorate1

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

Origin of decorate1

C16: from Latin decorāre, from decus adornment; see decent
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Christie's had dubbed the box, decorated with ebony, as "the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction" and it had been expected to fetch 2-3 million euros.

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She’s wearing a dress of white sand, decorated with seashells and diamonds.

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Mrs. Clarke lifted the cover off the tray to reveal a decorated cake, edged with marzipan flowers and iced with the words Happy 16th Birthday Miss P. Lumley.

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Not only that, but the foldout map was so charmingly decorated with pretty alpine meadows, it was impossible to read the street names.

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The USS Indianapolis was a highly decorated United States warship that as, the U.S.

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décordecorated