architectural ornament
- noun
- /ˌɑːrkɪˈtɛkʧərəl ˈɔrnəmənt/
:
ornamento arquitectónico
- Architectural ornament cannot become meaningful and achieve a wholesome, non-fragmentary presence unless it appears on a structure to which it is an adjunct or an accessory, secondary and contingent.
Examples
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The room, because of its former function, was barren of architectural ornament.
Fiction book (1992) -
The grand entrance of the building was adorned with intricate architectural ornament that caught everyone's attention.
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Many historic buildings showcase beautiful architectural ornament to highlight their unique styles.
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The architect decided to include floral architectural ornaments to enhance the overall appearance of the facade.
Synonyms
92
1.0
An object that makes something look more attractive
8
4.2
Something added to make a person or thing look more attractive
1
3.7
A small object or pattern people add to make something look nicer
How Decorative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'architectural' (relating to building design) modifies 'ornament' (a decorative object), so the combined meaning 'a decorative feature of a building' is directly derivable from the parts. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English modification, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.
Etymology
The noun architectural ornament comes from the image of adding small decorative pieces to a building, like putting jewelry on a person. Skilled workers would carve leaves, faces, and patterns and attach them to walls and doors, so the words architectural and ornament together mean 'a decorative feature added to a building'.