noun / verb
ornament
OR-nuh-munt/ˈɔːrnəmənt/
A decorative addition that enhances beauty.
A small glass ornament hangs from a branch of the tree.
Etymology
The underlying verb joins equipping with adorning: an ornament could originally be a useful accessory that also looked attractive. The English sense narrowed to something added simply for beauty.
In context
a vine made of gold with all sorts of precious stones upon it instead of fruit which was wrought as an ornament over the throne
More examples
- She places a ceramic ornament on the mantel.
- Carved flowers ornament the wooden frame.
- They ornamented the invitations with tiny gold stars.
Forms
ornament · ornaments · ornamented · ornamenting
ornamental adjective — Intended to decorate or add beauty.
ornamentation noun — Decorative details added to enhance beauty.
Similar words
- decoration
- Decoration is broader, covering both objects and decorative treatment.
- embellishment
- Embellishment emphasizes an extra detail added to something existing.