Dictionary.com

decorate

[ dek-uh-reyt ]
/ ˈdɛk əˌreɪt /
See synonyms for: decorate / decorated / decorating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dec·o·rat·ed, dec·o·rat·ing.

to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish: to decorate walls with murals.
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.
to confer distinction upon by a badge, a medal of honor, etc.: to decorate a soldier for valor.

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Origin of decorate

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 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

decontaminate, decontamination, decontextualize, decontrol, décor, decorate, decorated, decorated shed, Decorated style, decoration, decorative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to decorate

trim, bedeck, illuminate, deck, spruce up, brighten, grace, renovate, festoon, dress up, fix up, do up, paint, adorn, perfect, finish, color, enrich, furbish, ornament

Example sentences from the Web for decorate

British Dictionary definitions for decorate

decorate
/ (ˈdɛkəˌreɪt) /

verb

(tr) to make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc
to paint or wallpaper (a room, house, etc)
(tr) to confer a mark of distinction, esp a military medal, upon
(tr) to evaporate a metal film onto (a crystal) in order to display dislocations in structure

Word Origin for decorate

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