decorative
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.made to look attractive or pretty, often without a practical use.
adj.serving to provide ornament or to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a space or object.
Simple“The mirror has a decorative gold frame that looks beautiful in the hallway.”
In context“While the pillars appear to support the ceiling, they are purely decorative and carry no structural weight whatsoever.”
Usageoften used to contrast with 'functional' or 'practical'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.an object like a plant or a tile that you use to make a place look better.
n.a physical object, such as a botanical specimen or architectural element, used primarily for its aesthetic value.
Simple“The gardener suggested planting several decoratives along the stone path.”
In context“The interior designer selected a series of hand-painted decoratives to serve as the focal point for the kitchen backsplash.”
Usagefrequently used in landscaping, interior design, and architecture contexts.
Teacher's tipThis noun usage is specialised; in everyday English, people usually say 'decoration' or 'ornament'.
Synonyms
From Latin decorātus + -ive. Cognate with French décoratif.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.