noun
- 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.
- a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation: a book on Gothic ornament.
- any adornment or means of adornment.
- a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.
- the act of adorning.
- the state of being adorned.
- mere outward display: a speech more of ornament than of ideas.
- Chiefly Ecclesiastical. any accessory, adjunct, or equipment.
- Music. a tone or group of tones applied as decoration to a principal melodic tone.
verb (used with object)
- to furnish with ornaments; embellish: to ornament a musical composition.
- to be an ornament to: Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.
noun (ˈɔːnəmənt)
- anything that enhances the appearance of a person or thing
- decorations collectivelyshe was totally without ornament
- a small decorative object
- something regarded as a source of pride or beauty
- music any of several decorations, such as the trill, mordent, etc, occurring chiefly as improvised embellishments in baroque music
verb (ˈɔːnəˌmɛnt) (tr)
- to decorate with or as if with ornaments
- to serve as an ornament to
n.early 13c., “an accessory,” from Old French ornement “ornament, decoration,” and directly from Latin ornamentum “apparatus, equipment, trappings; embellishment, decoration, trinket,” from ornare “equip, adorn” (see ornate). Meaning “decoration, embellishment” in English is attested from late 14c. (also a secondary sense in classical Latin). Figurative use from 1550s. v.1720, from ornament (n.). Middle English used ournen (late 14c.) in this sense, from Old French orner, from Latin ornare. Related: Ornamented; ornamenting.