ORNAMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does ornament mean? 

• ORNAMENT (noun)
  The noun ORNAMENT has 1 sense:

1. something used to beautify

  Familiarity information: ORNAMENT used as a noun is very rare.

• ORNAMENT (verb)
  The verb ORNAMENT has 2 senses:

1. make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

2. be an ornament to

  Familiarity information: ORNAMENT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ORNAMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something used to beautify

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

decoration; ornament; ornamentation

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"):

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

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)

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

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)

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

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

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)

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)

embellishment (a superfluous ornament)

Derivation:

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

ornamental (serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose)

• ORNAMENT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ornament    ... he / she / it ornaments   
Past simple: ornamented   
Past participle: ornamented   
-ing form: ornamenting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament

Context example:

beautify yourself for the special day

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)

flag (decorate with flags)

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)

tart up (decorate in a cheap and flashy way)

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)

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

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

stars ornamented the Christmas tree

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)

 Context examples 

This funny spectacle appeared to amuse the sun, for he burst out with such radiance that Jo woke up and roused her sisters by a hearty laugh at Amy's ornament.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I am resolved to have some in an ornament for the head.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Her black satin dress, her scarf of rich foreign lace, and her pearl ornaments, pleased me better than the rainbow radiance of the titled dame.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This is the only ornament I have ever had a desire to possess.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was little wonder that the richness and ornament, not only of church and of stall, but of every private house as well, should have impressed itself upon the young squires.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The whole building enclosed a large court; and two sides of the quadrangle, rich in Gothic ornaments, stood forward for admiration.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She was a little, sharp-eyed woman, who used to wear, when she was dressed, one unchangeable cap, ornamented with some artificial flowers, and two artificial butterflies supposed to be hovering above the flowers.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He must have all Edward's virtues, and his person and manners must ornament his goodness with every possible charm.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Her jacket was black, with black beads sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)