Library / English Dictionary

ORNAMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something used to beautify

Synonyms:

decoration; ornament; ornamentation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ornament" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ornament"):

inlay (a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface)

decor; interior decoration (decoration consisting of the layout and furnishings of a livable interior)

knob; pommel (an ornament in the shape of a ball on the hilt of a sword or dagger)

lunula (a crescent-shaped metal ornament of the Bronze Age)

molding; moulding (a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing)

nailhead (something resembling the head of a nail that is used as an ornamental device)

necklet (decoration worn about the neck (fur piece or tight necklace) as an ornament)

overlay (a layer of decorative material (such as gold leaf or wood veneer) applied over a surface)

rosemaling (a Scandinavian style of carved or painted decoration (as on furniture or walls or dinnerware) consisting of floral motifs)

set decoration (a decoration used as part of the set of a theatrical or movie production)

sgraffito (a ceramic or mural decoration made by scratching off a surface layer to reveal the ground)

spiral; volute (ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center)

sprig (an ornament that resembles a spray of leaves or flowers)

rivet; stud (ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt))

fin; tail fin; tailfin (one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile)

tinsel (a showy decoration that is basically valueless)

tracery (decoration consisting of an open pattern of interlacing ribs)

wind bell; wind chime (a decorative arrangement of pieces of metal or glass or pottery that hang together loosely so the wind can cause them to tinkle)

garnish (something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or decoration)

adornment (a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness)

arabesque (an ornament that interlaces simulated foliage in an intricate design)

architectural ornament ((architecture) something added to a building to improve its appearance)

beading; beadwork (ornamentation with beads)

bow (a decorative interlacing of ribbons)

brass (an ornament or utensil made of brass)

centerpiece; centrepiece (something placed at the center of something else (as on a table))

Christmas tree (an ornamented evergreen used as a Christmas decoration)

cockade (an ornament (such as a knot of ribbon or a rosette) usually worn on the hat)

design; figure; pattern (a decorative or artistic work)

embellishment (a superfluous ornament)

finial (an ornament at the top of a spire or gable; usually a foliated fleur-de-lis)

floral arrangement; flower arrangement (a decorative arrangement of flowers)

falderol; folderal; frill; gimcrack; gimcrackery; nonsense; trumpery (ornamental objects of no great value)

gargoyle (an ornament consisting of a grotesquely carved figure of a person or animal)

garnish (any decoration added as a trimming or adornment)

graffiti; graffito (a rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls)

hanging; wall hanging (decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window)

hood ornament (an ornament on the front of the hood of a car emblematic of the manufacturer)

encrustation; incrustation (a decorative coating of contrasting material that is applied to a surface as an inlay or overlay)

Derivation:

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

ornamental (serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

Example:

beautify yourself for the special day

Synonyms:

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "ornament" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

ornament (be an ornament to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ornament"):

bedeck; bedight; deck (decorate)

trim (decorate, as with ornaments)

dress; garnish; trim (decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods)

dress ship (decorate a ship with flags)

bedizen (decorate tastelessly)

scallop (decorate an edge with scallops)

filet; fillet (decorate with a lace of geometric designs)

bejewel; jewel (adorn or decorate with precious stones)

panel (decorate with panels)

redecorate (redo the decoration of an apartment or house)

stucco (decorate with stucco work)

festoon (decorate with strings of flowers)

enamel (coat, inlay, or surface with enamel)

inlay (decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal)

lacquer (coat with lacquer)

begild; engild; gild (decorate with, or as if with, gold leaf or liquid gold)

illuminate (add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts))

blazon; emblazon (decorate with heraldic arms)

color; colour; emblazon (decorate with colors)

fringe (adorn with a fringe)

fret (decorate with an interlaced design)

landscape (embellish with plants)

wreathe (decorate or deck with wreaths)

beset; encrust; incrust (decorate or cover lavishly (as with gems))

braid (decorate with braids or ribbons)

broider; embroider (decorate with needlework)

stick (cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface)

illustrate (supply with illustrations)

garland (adorn with bands of flowers or leaves)

fledge; flight (decorate with feathers)

bespangle; spangle (decorate with spangles)

foliate (decorate with leaves)

flag (decorate with flags)

bard; barde; caparison; dress up (put a caparison on)

bead (decorate by sewing beads onto)

pipe (trim with piping)

applique (sew on as a decoration)

gild the lily; paint the lily (adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful))

vermiculate (decorate with wavy or winding lines)

smock (embellish by sewing in straight lines crossing each other diagonally)

hang (decorate or furnish with something suspended)

prank (dress or decorate showily or gaudily)

tinsel (adorn with tinsel)

tart up (decorate in a cheap and flashy way)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

ornament (something used to beautify)

ornamentation (the act of adding extraneous decorations to something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be an ornament to

Example:

stars ornamented the Christmas tree

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "ornament" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; deck; decorate; embellish; grace (be beautiful to look at)

Verb group:

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

ornamentation (the state of being ornamented)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Thus, gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful history of my travels for sixteen years and above seven months: wherein I have not been so studious of ornament as of truth.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The lobes of their ears, hanging ragged and bloody, showed that they had been pierced for some ornaments which their captors had torn out.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There were also chains and ornaments, some jewelled, but all of them old and stained.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Beautifully ornamented tusks were documented as far away as the Middle East and India.

(Extinction of Icelandic walrus coincides with Norse settlement, National Science Foundation)

Within there was a high and large hall, ornamented with Eastern decorations, which harmonized with the domes and minarets of the exterior.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He bore himself a bit stiffly at first, oppressed by a sense of his own awkwardness, especially of his shoulders, which were up to their old trick of threatening destruction to furniture and ornaments.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Funny presents, some of them, but what would have been defects to other eyes were ornaments to Grandma's—for the children's gifts were all their own.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I must put on a few ornaments now, because it is expected of me.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I must be satisfied with rather less ornament and beauty.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

This hall was as light as day, for torches burned in numerous sconces upon the walls, throwing strange shadows from the tusked or antlered heads which ornamented them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)