ornament

[awr-nuh-muhnt, awr-nuh-ment, -muhnt]

noun

1. an accessory, article, or detail used to beautify the appearance of something to which it is added or of which it is a part.

   architectural ornaments.

   Synonyms: embellishment

2. a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation.

   a book on Gothic ornament.

3. any adornment or means of adornment.

   Synonyms: decoration

4. a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.

5. the act of adorning.

   Synonyms: decoration

6. the state of being adorned.

7. mere outward display.

   a speech more of ornament than of ideas.

8. Chiefly Ecclesiastical.,  any accessory, adjunct, or equipment.

9. Music.,  a tone or group of tones applied as decoration to a principal melodic tone.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with ornaments; embellish.

   to ornament a musical composition.

   Synonyms: grace, adorn, decorate

2. to be an ornament to.

   Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.

   Synonyms: grace, adorn, decorate

ornament

noun

1. anything that enhances the appearance of a person or thing

2. decorations collectively

   she was totally without ornament

3. a small decorative object

4. something regarded as a source of pride or beauty

5. music any of several decorations, such as the trill, mordent, etc, occurring chiefly as improvised embellishments in baroque music

verb

1. to decorate with or as if with ornaments

2. to serve as an ornament to

Other Word Forms

• ornamentation noun
• ornamenter noun
• overornament verb (used with object)
• reornament verb (used with object)
• superornament verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornament¹

1175–1225; < Latin ornāmentum equipment, ornament, equivalent to ornā ( re ) to equip + -mentum -ment; replacing Middle English ornement < Old French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornament¹

C14: from Latin ornāmentum, from ornāre to adorn

Example Sentences

For example, he has covered the walls of the previously spartan Oval Office with gold, paintings and ornaments.

Read more on Barron's

Their sculpted ornaments and white goat and goat-head handles are highlighted in 24-karat gold.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To begin with, the pair's practice focused on sleek, stripped-down buildings with little or no ornament, in which a structure's function was meant to dictate its form.

Read more on BBC

Underwater and forsaken, American homeowners watched as their earth-toned Tuscan kitchens and quirky bits of ornament made their homes slow to move in a glutted market.

Read more on Salon

“Trees are not some cosmetic thing, some ornament. They’re also critical infrastructure, like traffic signs and traffic lights. They have tremendous value for the health and safety of the community.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accessory 
• adornment 
• art 
• bauble 
• embroidery 
• flower 
• jewel 
• knickknack 
• treasure 
• trinket