ADORNMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does adornment mean? 

• ADORNMENT (noun)
  The noun ADORNMENT has 2 senses:

1. a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness

2. the action of decorating yourself with something colorful and interesting

  Familiarity information: ADORNMENT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ADORNMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

decoration; ornament; ornamentation (something used to beautify)

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

frontal; frontlet (an adornment worn on the forehead)

war paint (adornment consisting of paint applied to the face and body of certain Amerindians before a battle)

passementerie; trim; trimming (a decoration or adornment on a garment)

tassel (adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one end)

diamante; sequin; spangle (adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing)

rosette (an ornament or pattern resembling a rose that is worn as a badge of office or as recognition of having won an honor)

pom-pom; pompon (decoration consisting of a ball of tufted wool or silk; usually worn on a hat)

plume (a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament)

pendant; pendent (an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry (necklace or earring))

pectoral; pectoral medallion (an adornment worn on the chest or breast)

jewellery; jewelry (an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems))

band; banding; stripe (an adornment consisting of a strip of a contrasting color or material)

frog (a decorative loop of braid or cord)

flounce; frill; furbelow; ruffle (a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim)

fob (an adornment that hangs from a watch chain)

epaulet; epaulette (adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulder)

cordon (adornment consisting of an ornamental ribbon or cord)

circlet (decorated metal band worn around the head)

boutonniere (a flower that is worn in a buttonhole)

beauty spot (a spot that is worn on a lady's face for adornment)

bangle; bauble; fallal; gaud; gewgaw; novelty; trinket (cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing)

Derivation:

adorn (be beautiful to look at)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The action of decorating yourself with something colorful and interesting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

decoration (the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive))

Derivation:

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

 Context examples 

In answer to your letter, I can assure you that you must not conceive me to be wanting in those finer feelings which are the chief adornment of humanity.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Look here, old fellow, said Morris, it is a capital idea to have all ready in case we want to go horsebacking; but don't you think that one of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a byway of Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our purposes?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)