Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

ornament

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

ornament

Main Entry:: ¹or·na·ment
Pronunciation:: \ˈȯr-nə-mənt\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French urnement, ornement, from Latin ornamentum, from ornare
Date:: 13th century

1archaic : a useful accessory2 a: something that lends grace or beauty b: a manner or quality that adorns3: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society4: the act of adorning or being adorned5: an embellishing note not belonging to the essential harmony or melody —called also embellishment fioritura

Learn more about "ornament" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "ornament" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols