embellishment

/ɪmˈbelɪʃmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈbelɪʃmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈbe-lish-mənt/ (ame, mw)

embellishment — noun

  • embellishmentsingular
  • embellishmentsplural

1. an extra decorative detail or object that makes a person or thing look more attr

1.名詞C2
釋義

an extra decorative detail or object that makes a person or thing look more attractive, or decorative work of that kind

例句

Sade sewed silver embellishments onto the sleeves before the dance show.

embellishments onto + clothing

The cake's sugar flowers were a final embellishment for the wedding table.

final embellishment

同義詞
  • decoration

    the broad everyday word for something added to improve appearance

  • ornament

    often suggests a separate decorative object rather than decoration in general

  • adornment

    more formal and often used for elegant personal or artistic detail

  • trim

    usually means decorative edging on clothes, fabric, or furniture

反義詞
  • plainness

    the quality of having little or no decorative detail

  • simplicity

    lack of extra decoration or ornament

文法句型

embellishment on a dress

gold embellishments on a mirror

add embellishment to a cake

without embellishment

用法筆記

Often used for decorative extras rather than the main shape of something. It can name one added feature or the act of adding richer detail to clothes, rooms, or designs.

常見錯誤

❌The plain wall needed an embellishment of paint.
✅The plain wall needed a fresh coat of paint.
💡embellishment means an added decorative detail, not the basic layer itself.
❌The builder added embellishment to make the shelf stronger.
✅The builder added support to make the shelf stronger.
💡embellishment is for appearance, not structural repair.

2. extra detail added to a story or report so it sounds more lively or dramatic, of

2.名詞C2
釋義

extra detail added to a story or report so it sounds more lively or dramatic, often going beyond the facts

例句

Rafael's camping story gained a few embellishments by the second telling.

story gained embellishments

The paper added embellishment to a simple argument outside the cafe.

add embellishment to + account

同義詞
  • exaggeration

    the broad everyday word for making something seem bigger or stronger than it was

  • overstatement

    more neutral and often less theatrical in tone

  • fabrication

    stronger; suggests inventing false detail rather than only dressing facts up

反義詞
  • accuracy

    sticking closely to what really happened

  • plain account

    a simple telling without extra dramatic detail

文法句型

embellishment to a story

add embellishment to the truth

a few embellishments

without embellishment

用法筆記

Often used critically when a speaker thinks a retelling goes beyond plain fact. It commonly appears with or without, or after verbs such as add and supply.

常見錯誤

❌Her witness statement was full of decorations.
✅Her witness statement was full of embellishments.
💡in stories or reports, embellishment means added dramatic detail, not visual decoration.
❌He gave an embellishment account of the crash.
✅He gave an embellished account of the crash.
💡embellishment is the noun for the added detail, while embellished is the adjective.