ornaments
ornaments — noun
1. a small object kept on a shelf, table, or tree because it looks pretty, with no
a small object kept on a shelf, table, or tree because it looks pretty, with no practical job to do
Yasmin lined up tiny glass ornaments along the kitchen windowsill.
ornaments + along [surface]: where you display them
Every December the children hang colourful ornaments on the Christmas tree.
collocation: hang ornaments on the tree
The shelf above the fireplace was crowded with porcelain ornaments and old photographs.
Aarav's grandmother left him a box of brass ornaments shaped like elephants.
Most of the ornaments in the gift shop cost less than five pounds.
- trinket
smaller and often cheaper than a typical ornament
- knick-knack
informal; suggests clutter of small ornaments
- figurine
specifically a small model of a person or animal
文法句型
a/the + ornament
ornament + on/in [surface]
用法筆記
Almost always countable and pictureable — points to a single object you could pick up. Distinguish from sense 2, which is an uncountable mass of decoration applied to a surface.
常見錯誤
2. carving, painting, or other extra detail put onto a building, dish, or piece of
carving, painting, or other extra detail put onto a building, dish, or piece of clothing to make it look richer or more beautiful
The cathedral doorway is covered in stone ornament carved by medieval craftsmen.
uncountable: 'stone ornament', not 'stone ornaments'
Élise prefers plain wooden bowls without any painted ornament around the rim.
ornament + around [edge]
Victorian houses often used iron ornament along the roof and balcony railings.
The dress was simple at the front, with heavy beaded ornament across the back.
- decoration
everyday word for any added beauty; ornament sounds more formal
- embellishment
stresses small added touches, often delicate
- adornment
formal; emphasises the act of making something beautiful
- plainness
absence of any added decorative detail
文法句型
ornament on/around [thing]
for ornament
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable mass noun, normally with a material word in front (stone / iron / beaded / gold ornament). Distinguish from sense 1, which counts individual objects you can hold.
常見錯誤
ornaments — verb
1. to attach pretty extra parts to something so that the whole piece looks fancier
to attach pretty extra parts to something so that the whole piece looks fancier or more impressive
Daichi ornamented the wedding cake with sugar roses and silver leaves.
ornament + with [decorative item]
The old prayer book is ornamented with tiny gold letters on every page.
passive: be ornamented with [detail]
Local potters ornament their bowls with simple blue patterns of fish and waves.
Manuela ornamented the front of the cabinet with carvings of forest animals.
- strip
remove decoration rather than add it
文法句型
ornament [object]
ornament [object] with [decoration]
be ornamented with [decoration]
用法筆記
Frequently passive (be ornamented with…). The verb sounds formal or literary; in everyday speech, 'decorate' is far more common. Object is usually a crafted thing (cake, book, garment, building), not a person.