ornate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
having a lot of complicated patterns or decorations, often in a traditional style.
elaborately or sumptuously adorned, often featuring complex patterns or intricate details.
Simple“The old church had an ornate gold ceiling that took years to paint.”
In context“The mahogany desk featured ornate carvings of mythical creatures along its legs, reflecting the craftsmanship of the late nineteenth century.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
using many unusual or fancy words to describe something.
referring to a literary or rhetorical style that is flowery, complex, or excessively polished.
Simple“The author is famous for his ornate prose and long, descriptive sentences.”
In context“Critics argued that the poet's ornate metaphors obscured the emotional core of the work, making it difficult for modern readers to connect with.”
“In one, she stands in a blue tunic in the ornate courtyard of a temple, smiling gently at the camera.”
Learned borrowing from Latin ōrnātus, perfect passive participle of ōrnō (“to equip, adorn”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of orné.
From Latin ōrnātus, perfect passive participle of ōrnō (“to equip, adorn”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French orner.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.