ornate

/ɔːˈneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːrˈneɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ȯr-ˈnāt/ (ame, mw)

ornate — adjective

1. decorated with many small details, often in a rich or showy style.

1.形容詞C1
釋義

decorated with many small details, often in a rich or showy style.

例句

The hotel lobby had ornate gold mirrors and painted ceiling panels.

before noun: ornate mirrors / ornate ceiling

An ornate wooden gate stood at the entrance to the old temple.

同義詞
  • elaborate

    broader word that can also describe plans, systems, or ceremonies.

  • decorative

    focuses on making something look pretty, not necessarily heavily detailed.

  • fancy

    more everyday and can suggest showy taste.

  • ornamental

    often means made mainly to decorate rather than to be useful.

反義詞
  • plain

    without extra decoration or detail.

  • simple

    emphasizes a clean design with few parts.

  • unadorned

    formal word for something left without decoration.

文法句型

ornate building

ornate frame

ornate ceiling

look ornate

用法筆記

Mostly used for visible design on buildings, furniture, clothes, and objects. It often suggests beauty, but it can also hint that the decoration feels a bit too much.

常見錯誤

❌The room was ornate with books and bags.
✅The room was full of books and bags.' / 'The room had ornate furniture.
💡'ornate' describes decorative detail, not simply having many things inside.

2. using extra long or difficult words, instead of saying something in a simple way

2.形容詞C2
釋義

using extra long or difficult words, instead of saying something in a simple way.

例句

The speech sounded ornate, so the children missed the main point.

linking verb: sound ornate

Her ornate thank-you email about a small refund sounded oddly formal.

before noun: ornate email

同義詞
  • flowery

    common critical word for language that has too many decorative expressions.

  • florid

    more formal and often strongly negative.

  • elaborate

    can describe style that is detailed, though it is not always excessive.

  • grandiloquent

    very formal and stronger, especially for speech that sounds overly important.

反義詞
  • plain

    using direct, simple wording.

  • direct

    goes straight to the message without extra decoration.

  • clear

    easy to understand and free of unnecessary style.

文法句型

ornate language

ornate style

ornate prose

sound ornate

用法筆記

Usually used for writing, speeches, and style, often with a critical tone. Distinguish from adjective/1: this sense is about word choice, not physical decoration.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher used ornate English, so the class understood easily.
✅The teacher used plain English, so the class understood easily.
💡'ornate' suggests language that is over-decorated and often harder to follow.