ornament

n. a small, pretty object you use to decorate a room or a tree.

n. a decorative object or detail used to embellish the appearance of a room, garment, or other item.

“She placed a small glass ornament on the shelf to brighten the room.”

“The mantelpiece was crowded with various ceramic ornaments collected during their travels across Europe.”

n. extra notes added to a melody to make it sound more beautiful or complex.

n. musical flourishes, such as trills or appoggiaturas, that decorate a melodic line without being essential to its basic structure.

“The pianist added a delicate ornament to the end of the phrase.”

“Baroque compositions often require the performer to improvise ornaments to enhance the expressive quality of the slow movements.”

Technical

n. a physical feature of an animal, like bright feathers, used to attract a mate.

n. a physical trait, often elaborate or brightly coloured, that serves a decorative function in mate selection.

“The peacock's long, colourful tail is a famous example of a biological ornament.”

“Evolutionary biologists study how specific ornaments, such as antlers or bright plumage, influence reproductive success within a species.”

Technical

v. to add decoration to something to make it look better.

v. to adorn or embellish something; to make more aesthetically pleasing through the addition of decorative elements.

“Hand-painted flowers were used to ornament the wooden chest.”

“The architect chose to ornament the columns with intricate carvings that reflected the building's historical significance.”

Formal