decorate

[dek-uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

decorated, decorating 

1. to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish.

   to decorate walls with murals.

   Synonyms: festoon, garnish, trim, bedeck, ornament

2. to plan and execute the design, furnishings, and ornamentation of the interior of (a house, office, apartment, etc.), especially by selecting colors, fabrics, and style of furniture, by making minor structural changes, etc..

   Their house is decorated in French Provincial style.

3. to confer distinction upon by a badge, a medal of honor, etc..

   to decorate a soldier for valor.

decorate

/ ˈdɛkəˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc

2. to paint or wallpaper (a room, house, etc)

3. (tr) to confer a mark of distinction, esp a military medal, upon

4. (tr) to evaporate a metal film onto (a crystal) in order to display dislocations in structure

Other Word Forms

• overdecorate verb
• redecorate verb
• undecorate verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of decorate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin decorātus (past participle of decorāre ), equivalent to decor- (stem of decus ) an ornament, splendor, honor ( decent ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of decorate¹

C16: from Latin decorāre, from decus adornment; see _decent

Example Sentences

Lucy Bronze is England's most decorated female footballer.

From BBC

Most decorated in this group is Kansas City’s Reid, whose Chiefs have won three of the past six Super Bowls.

From Los Angeles Times

Its popularity has in part been driven by its TikTok appeal, with fans posting videos of themselves ordering in its minty fresh decorated cafes or at free tattoo pop up events.

From BBC

Adverts for the jobs, first reported by the Sun newspaper, included a "hospitality and floristry tutor", who was to teach skills including cake decorating and ballooncraft.

From BBC

Californian sunsets, perfectly decorated cakes, and lessons in how to make salt and vinegar crisps.

From BBC

Related Words

• adorn 
• bedeck 
• brighten 
• deck 
• do up 
• dress up 
• festoon 
• fix up 
• grace 
• illuminate 
• paint 
• renovate 
• spruce up 
• trim