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

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.

From 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.”

From Los Angeles Times

There are exquisite medallions and hair ornaments made from iridescent abalone shells and strings of Chumash currency — tiny, doughnut-shaped beads created from carefully cut olivella shells.

From Los Angeles Times

They were wearing traditional headdresses, face paint and ornaments, in among the flowers and trees of Highgrove.

From BBC

Visitors to his north London home were often surprised by the quirky pictures and ornaments, as well as the skeletal hand that popped out of the grand piano when they raised the lid.

From BBC

Related Words

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