ornament: Meaning and Definition of

or•na•ment

Pronunciation: (n.ôr'nu-muntv.ôr'nu-ment&sec, -munt), [key]
— n.
  1. 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.
  2. a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation: a book on Gothic ornament.
  3. any adornment or means of adornment.
  4. a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.
  5. the act of adorning.
  6. the state of being adorned.
  7. mere outward display: a speech more of ornament than of ideas.
  8. any accessory, adjunct, or equipment.
  9. a tone or group of tones applied as decoration to a principal melodic tone.
—v.t.
  1. to furnish with ornaments; embellish: to ornament a musical composition.
  2. to be an ornament to: Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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