adornment

/əˈdɔrnmənt/

Other forms: adornments

An adornment is some ornament or accent that makes a person or thing look more attractive. You might check out your hair in the mirror before a party and decide it needs an adornment — a hat or a glittery barrette.

Tinsel draped on a Christmas tree is an adornment, and so are the fuzzy dice hanging on your car's rear view mirror. Lipstick is an adornment, and so is a polka dotted bow tie, since they both dress a person up a little bit. Another way to use adornment is to mean the act or process of decorating: "The adornment of the high school gym had transformed it into a winter wonderland." The Latin root is adornare, "equip or embellish."

Definitions of adornment

1. noun

   the action of decorating yourself with something colorful and interesting
   type of:

   decoration

   the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive)
2. noun

   a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness
   types:

   band, banding, stripe

   an adornment consisting of a strip of a contrasting color or material

   bangle, bauble, fallal, gaud, gewgaw, novelty, trinket

   cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing

   beauty spot

   a spot that is worn on a lady's face for adornment

   boutonniere

   a flower that is worn in a buttonhole

   circlet

   decorated metal band worn around the head

   cordon

   adornment consisting of an ornamental ribbon or cord

   epaulet, epaulette

   adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulder

   fob

   an adornment that hangs from a watch chain

   flounce, frill, furbelow, ruffle

   a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim

   frog

   a decorative loop of braid or cord

   frontal, frontlet

   an adornment worn on the forehead

   jewellery, jewelry

   an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)

   pectoral, pectoral medallion

   an adornment worn on the chest or breast

   pendant, pendent

   an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry (necklace or earring)

   plume

   a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament

   pom-pom, pompon

   decoration consisting of a ball of tufted wool or silk; usually worn on a hat

   rosette

   an ornament or pattern resembling a rose that is worn as a badge of office or as recognition of having won an honor

   diamante, sequin, spangle

   adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing

   tassel

   adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one end

   passementerie, trim, trimming

   a decoration or adornment on a garment

   war paint

   adornment consisting of paint applied to the face and body of certain Amerindians before a battle

   aigret, aigrette

   a long plume (especially one of egret feathers) worn on a hat or a piece of jewelry in the shape of a plume

   bead

   a small ball with a hole through the middle

   bijou

   a small, stylish object or place, especially made or designed in an intricate or attractive way

   bling, bling bling

   flashy, ostentatious jewelry

   bangle, bracelet

   jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration

   braid, braiding, gold braid

   trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains

   cigar band

   a narrow paper band around a cigar

   clip

   an article of jewelry that can be clipped onto a hat or dress

   cufflink

   jewelry consisting of one of a pair of linked buttons used to fasten the cuffs of a shirt

   earring

   jewelry to ornament the ear; usually clipped to the earlobe or fastened through a hole in the lobe

   gauffer, goffer

   an ornamental frill made by pressing pleats

   hatband

   a band around the crown of a hat just above the brim

   jabot

   a ruffle on the front of a woman's blouse or a man's shirt

   gem, jewel, precious stone

   a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

   lavalier, lavaliere, lavalliere

   jeweled pendant worn on a chain around the neck

   miniver

   trimming on ceremonial robes consisting of white or light grey fur

   neckband

   a band around the collar of a garment

   necklace

   jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)

   panache

   a feathered plume on a helmet

   peplum

   a flared ruffle attached to the waistline of a dress or jacket or blouse

   pin

   a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment

   pinstripe

   a very thin stripe (especially a white stripe on a dark fabric)

   rickrack, ricrac

   a narrow zigzag ribbon used as trimming

   band, ring

   jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger

   shoulder board, shoulder mark

   epaulets that indicate rank

   sword knot

   an ornamental tassel on the hilt of a sword

   tie clip

   a piece of jewelry that holds a man's tie in place

   type of:

   decoration, ornament, ornamentation

   something used to beautify