furnishing

IPA/ˈfɜː.nɪʃ/
KK[fˈɚnɪʃɪŋ]IPA/ˈfɝː.nɪʃ/

furnishing — noun

1. the movable things used to equip a room, home, or other space, such as furniture

1.nounB2
Definition

the movable things used to equip a room, home, or other space, such as furniture, lamps, or floor coverings

Example

Noor chose simple furnishings for the small studio near the station.

The rental came with basic furnishings, including a sofa and two lamps.

collocation: basic furnishings in a rental

Common collocations
  • basic furnishings
  • home furnishings
  • office furnishings
Synonyms
  • decor

    often stresses style and appearance more than practical equipment

  • appointments

    more formal and often used for attractive room features

Usage Note

Usually plural when it refers to the set of movable things inside a room or building.

Common Mistakes

The hotel bought many furnitures for the new rooms.
The hotel bought a lot of furnishings for the new rooms.
'furnishings' is the natural plural word for these room items.

2. a piece of clothing or an item worn with clothes, especially in formal or old-fa

2.nounC2
Definition

a piece of clothing or an item worn with clothes, especially in formal or old-fashioned use

Example

The museum displayed bridal furnishings from a nineteenth-century wedding.

formal use for items of dress

Silver hairpins were common furnishings in the dancer's stage costume.

Common collocations
  • bridal furnishings
  • dress furnishings
  • costume furnishings
Synonyms
  • garment

    usually means a full piece of clothing rather than an accessory

  • attire

    more often refers to someone's whole outfit

  • accessory

    covers added items like gloves or hairpins, not all clothing

Usage Note

Mostly seen in fashion, historical, or literary writing rather than in everyday conversation.

furnishing — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Furnish is most useful when you mean putting the needed furniture into a room, flat, or building so people can live or work there. Equip is broader and can involve tools, machines, or skills, not only furniture. Fit out often suggests preparing a whole place for a particular purpose, such as a shop, office, or clinic, and it sounds a little more practical. Decorate focuses on appearance and style, so a place can be decorated without being fully furnished. A landlord can furnish a flat with beds and tables, while a designer decorates it with colour and art.

furnish ↗equip ↗fit out ↗decorate ↗

Etymology

First known use

1594

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2