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decoration

decoration

137 1.0
An object that makes something look more attractive
  • noun
  • /ˌdɛkəˈreɪʃən/
: adorno
  • She handmade all these fancy decorations for the table.
  • Christmas decorations
  • interior decorations
  • costumes and decorations

How do you feel about Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving?

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Examples

  • The decoration on the cake made it look so beautiful for the wedding.

  • Even though it's the end of January, Kwan always keeps the holiday decorations up until after her birthday.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I like the ghost decoration you got on your porch.

  • B, He still has his Christmas decorations up from a month ago.

  • We have to then put the Christmas decorations away to begin the next year.

  • Joe provided these lovely decorations for us.

  • This shop sells Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Christmas trees.

  • I like the little retro decorations, like this little guy.

  • At Christmas, their lawns were covered with decorations, a Nortex tradition the papers called the Festival of Lights.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The transformation of the home at Christmas, with lights, evergreens, and other decorations, proclaims it an ideal place.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

ornament
vsdecoration
96 1.6

A decoration placed on something to make it look nicer

is the general name for items used to make things more attractive
design
vsdecoration
49 3.3

A pattern or picture used to decorate a surface

is any single object added to improve appearance, not a pattern
embellishment
vsdecoration
15 5.8

Something added to make a story or thing more interesting

is the basic physical item rather than an imaginative or verbal addition
adornment
vsdecoration
8 4.2

Something added to make a person or thing look more attractive

is the general name for items used to make things more attractive
topper
vsdecoration
6 4.6

An object placed on top of something for decoration or comfort

is the general name for items used to make things more attractive
ornamentation
vsdecoration
6 4.9

Details added to make something look more beautiful

names the physical item rather than the process of adding details
set decoration
vsdecoration
  • Specialized
2 3.7

Objects and items used to make a film or play scene look real

is the general name for items used to make things more attractive
decorative element
vsdecoration
1 3.7

A small object or pattern people add to make something look nicer

is the broader label for objects that improve visual look
architectural ornament
vsdecoration
1 6.3

A decorative piece people add to a building to make it look nicer

is used for items on any object, not only buildings
decorative finial
vsdecoration
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A small ornament that sits on top of things like roofs, posts or furniture

is any item used to make things look more attractive, not only top pieces
brightwork
vsdecoration
1 8.5

Decorative details added for show that do not make something work better

is the general term for items used to make things more attractive

Antonyms

1 4.6

Not having an attractive appearance

Compounds

The art of choosing colors, furniture, and materials for the inside of a building

Decoration Day
  • Archaic
2 7.4

A United States holiday to remember soldiers who died in war that happens on the last Monday in May

set decoration
  • Specialized
2 3.7

Objects and items used to make a film or play scene look real

How Decorative

centerpiece
  • US
30 3.4
embellishment
15 5.8
decoration
137 1.0
ornament
96 1.6
trim
25 3.8

Surface Forms

decoration singular
decorations plural

Morphology

decoration = decorate (transparent) = decorate + ion

A straightforward nominalization from the verb 'decorate' using the productive suffix '-ion', so learners who know 'decorate' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Decoration comes from the same root as decorate and decor, which means 'beauty'. So a decoration is something you add to make a room or object more attractive.