ornament
Use Ornament in a sentence
nə 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.
2.
a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation: a book on Gothic ornament.
3.
any adornment or means of adornment.
4.
a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.
5.
the act of adorning.
verb (used with object)
10.
to furnish with ornaments; embellish: to ornament a musical composition.
11.
to be an ornament to: Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.
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Ornament
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Origin:
1175–1225; < Latin ornāmentum equipment, ornament, equivalent to ornā(re) to equip + -mentum -ment; replacing Middle English ornement < Old French < Latin, as above
1175–1225; < Latin ornāmentum equipment, ornament, equivalent to ornā(re) to equip + -mentum -ment; replacing Middle English ornement < Old French < Latin, as above
Related forms
or·na·ment·er, noun
o·ver·or·na·ment, verb (used with object)
re·or·na·ment, verb (used with object)
su·per·or·na·ment, noun
su·per·or·na·ment, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
1. embellishment. 3, 5. decoration. 10, 11. decorate, adorn, grace.
1. embellishment. 3, 5. decoration. 10, 11. decorate, adorn, grace.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To ornament
Collins
World English Dictionary
| ornament | |
| —n | |
| 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 |
| —vb | |
| 6. | to decorate with or as if with ornaments |
| 7. | to serve as an ornament to |
| [C14: from Latin ornāmentum, from ornāre to adorn] | |
| ornamen'tation | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ornament
early 13c., "an accessory," from O.Fr. ornement, from L. ornamentum "equipment, trappings, embellishment," from ornare "equip, adorn" (see ornate). Meaning "decoration, embellishment" is attested from late 14c. The verb is first recorded 1720, from the noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
ornament
in architecture, any element added to an otherwise merely structural form, usually for purposes of decoration or embellishment. Three basic and fairly distinct categories of ornament in architecture may be recognized: mimetic, or imitative, ornament, the forms of which have certain definite meanings or symbolic significance; applied ornament, intended to add beauty to a structure but extrinsic to it; and organic ornament, inherent in the building's function or materials
Learn more about ornament with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
The singers were encouraged to ornament their parts, although they did nothing self-indulgent.
In no case were the stairways intended for ornament.
When rolled behind a saddle, it provided a striking ornament.
The building stands in the centre of a beautiful park, and is an ornament to the locality in which it is placed.
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