Definition of ORNAMENT

ornament

Plural: ornaments

Noun

  • something used to beautify
  • An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns.
  • A Christmas tree decoration.
  • A musical flourish that is unnecessary to the overall melodic or harmonic line, but serves to decorate that line.
  • The articles used in church services.
  • A characteristic that has a decorative function (typically in order to attract a mate)

Verb

Verb Forms: ornamented, ornamenting, ornaments

  • To decorate, adorn, or embellish something.
  • make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
  • be an ornament to
    • "stars ornamented the Christmas tree"
  • To decorate.
  • To add to.

Examples

  • She liked to ORNAMENT her Scrabble board with long, beautiful words, even if they weren’t always highest scoring.
  • The editor ornamented his plain writing, making it fancier but less clear.
  • We will ornament the windows with trim to make the room seem brighter.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English ornament, from Old French ornement, from Latin ornamentum (“equipment, apparatus, furniture, trappings, adornment, embellishment”), from ornāre (“to equip, adorn”). The verb is derived from the noun.

Scrabble Score: 10

ornament: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ornament: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ornament: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

ornament: valid Words With Friends Word