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.
Origin of ornament
1175–1225; <Latin ornāmentum equipment, ornament, equivalent to ornā(re) to equip + -mentum-ment; replacing Middle English ornement<Old French <Latin, as above
SYNONYMS FOR ornament
1 embellishment.
3, 5 decoration.
10, 11 decorate, adorn, grace.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ornament ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM ornament
or·na·ment·er,nouno·ver·or·na·ment,verb (used with object)re·or·na·ment,verb (used with object)su·per·or·na·ment,noun