ENGLISH
REFERENCE

decorative

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈdɛkɹətɪv// UK //dˈɛkɹətˌɪv// dec·o·ra·tive

adj. made to look pretty or attractive. You use this to describe things that are for show rather than for a practical use.

adj. serving to provide aesthetic appeal rather than a functional or utilitarian purpose.


SIMPLE

The bowl is purely decorative and cannot hold water.

CONTEXTUAL

She added several decorative pillows to the sofa to make the living room feel more colorful.

COMPLEX

While the iron gates were originally designed for security, their intricate floral patterns now serve a primarily decorative function in the garden's overall design.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin decorātus + -ive. Cognate with French décoratif.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'look'.

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