ornament definition
Overview
This page has 10 definitions of ornament in English, Catalan, Valencian, and Norwegian Bokmål. Ornament is a noun and verb. Examples of how to use ornament in a sentence are shown. Also define these 17 related words and terms: element, decoration, Christmas tree, music, musical, flourish, melodic, harmonic, decorate, Christianity, church, service, biology, characteristic, decorative, function, and ornament.
See also: Ornament
English ornament definition
Etymology
From Middle English ornament, from Old French ornement, from Latin ornamentum (“equipment, apparatus, furniture, trappings, adornment, embellishment”), from ornāre, present active infinitive of I equip, adorn. The verb is derived from the noun.
Pronunciation
- (noun)
- (verb)
Noun
ornament (countable and uncountable, plural ornaments)
- An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns.
- 1864, Alfred Tennyson, “Aylmer’s Field”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], OCLC 879237670, page 51:
- Dust are our frames; and, gilded dust, our pride / Looks only for a moment whole and sound; / Like that long-buried body of the king / Found lying with his urns and ornaments, / Which at a touch of light, an air of heaven, / Slipt into ashes and was found no more.
- 1919, P. G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves:
- I'm a bit short on brain myself; the old bean would appear to have been constructed more for ornament than for use.
- 2012 March 1, Brian Hayes, “Pixels or Perish”, in American Scientist[1], volume 100, number 2, page 106:
- Drawings and pictures are more than mere ornaments in scientific discourse. Blackboard sketches, geological maps, diagrams of molecular structure, astronomical photographs, MRI images, the many varieties of statistical charts and graphs: These pictorial devices are indispensable tools for presenting evidence, for explaining a theory, for telling a story.
Element definition
One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based. (1 of 14 element definitions)
Decoration definition
The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation. (1 of 4 decoration definitions)
- A Christmas tree decoration.
- (music) A musical flourish that is unnecessary to the overall melodic or harmonic line, but serves to decorate or "ornament" that line.
Musical definition
Of, belonging or relating to music, or to its performance or notation. (1 of 4 musical definitions)
- (Christianity, in the plural) The articles used in church services.
Christianity definition
An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ.
Church definition
A Christian house of worship; a building where Christian religious services take place. (1 of 8 church definitions)
- (biology) A characteristic that has a decorative function (typically in order to attract a mate)
Decorative definition
That serves to decorate
Function definition
What something does or is used for. (1 of 10 function definitions)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
element of decoration
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Christmas tree decoration
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musical flourish
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Dictionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Verb
ornament (third-person singular simple present ornaments, present participle ornamenting, simple past and past participle ornamented)
- To decorate.
- We will ornament the windows with trim to make the room seem brighter.
- To add to.
- The editor ornamented his plain writing, making it fancier but less clear.
Conjugation
Conjugation of ornament
| infinitive | (to) ornament | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | ornament | ornamented | |
| 2nd-person singular | ornament, ornamentest* | ornamented, ornamentedst* | |
| 3rd-person singular | ornaments, ornamenteth* | ornamented | |
| plural | ornament | ||
| subjunctive | ornament | ||
| imperative | ornament | — | |
| participles | ornamenting | ornamented | |
| * Archaic or obsolete. | |||
Synonyms
Translations
to decorate
to add to
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Further reading
- ornament in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- ornament in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911.
Catalan ornament definition
Etymology
From Latin ornamentum.
Pronunciation
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /oɾ.nəˈment/
- (Central) IPA(key): /ur.nəˈmen/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /oɾ.naˈment/
Noun
ornament m (plural ornaments)
- ornament
Ornament definition
An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns. (1 of 5 ornament definitions)
Derived terms
Further reading
- “ornament” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “ornament” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
- “ornament” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “ornament” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
Norwegian Bokmål ornament definition
Etymology
From Latin ornamentum
Noun
ornament n (definite singular ornamentet, indefinite plural ornament or ornamenter, definite plural ornamenta or ornamentene)
- an ornament
Derived terms
References
- “ornament” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
- “ornament” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
Norwegian Nynorsk ornament definition
Etymology
From Latin ornamentum
Noun
ornament n (definite singular ornamentet, indefinite plural ornament, definite plural ornamenta)
- an ornament
Derived terms
References
- “ornament” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.