or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt 
plural ornaments
1
archaic
: a useful accessory
2
a
: something that lends grace, beauty, or festivity
holiday ornaments
b
: a manner or quality that adorns
3
: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society
4
: the act of adorning or being adorned
5
: an embellishing note not belonging to the essential harmony or melody
called also embellishment, fioritura
Synonyms
Examples of ornament in a Sentence
Noun
She wore a hair ornament.
The columns are there purely as ornament—they have no structural function.
Verb
flower patterns used to ornament boxes
delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Try your hand at a pirouette on the ice rink followed by a stroll around the wooden huts hawking everything from ornaments and crafts to Norwegian treats like gløgg, the Scandinavian version of mulled wine.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
The show begins with an extensive selection of luxury astrolabes, a technical instrument of engraved and ornamented metal plates and dials used for timekeeping, astronomy and navigation.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornament 
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Noun
But every grandchild has an ornament of some sort on that tree.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Try your hand at a pirouette on the ice rink followed by a stroll around the wooden huts hawking everything from ornaments and crafts to Norwegian treats like gløgg, the Scandinavian version of mulled wine.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
The spacious rooms and suites themselves are ornamented with gold and silver leaf and Venetian glass accents and are appointed with furniture from the ateliers of Italy, cared for by an in-house curator.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
The show begins with an extensive selection of luxury astrolabes, a technical instrument of engraved and ornamented metal plates and dials used for timekeeping, astronomy and navigation.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornament
Dictionary Entries Near ornament
Cite this Entry
“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornament. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ornament
1 of 2 noun
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt
1
: something that adds beauty : decoration
2
: addition of something that beautifies
a satin bow applied for ornament
ornament
2 of 2 verb
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-ˌment
: to provide with ornament : adorn
ornamentation
noun
ˌȯr-nə-mən-ˈtā-shən
-ˌmen-
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