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EMBELLISHMENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of adding extraneous decorations to something
Synonyms:
embellishment; ornamentation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("embellishment" is a kind of...):
decoration (the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive))
Derivation:
embellish (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A superfluous ornament
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("embellishment" is a kind of...):
decoration; ornament; ornamentation (something used to beautify)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "embellishment"):
boule; boulle; buhl (an inlaid furniture decoration; tortoiseshell and yellow and white metal form scrolls in cabinetwork)
cuspidation (a decoration using cusps)
festoon (an embellishment consisting of a decorative representation of a string of flowers suspended between two points; used on pottery or in architectural work)
filagree; filigree; fillagree (delicate and intricate ornamentation (usually in gold or silver or other fine twisted wire))
vermiculation (a decoration consisting of wormlike carvings)
flourish (an ornamental embellishment in writing)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
Example:
the mystery has been heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings
Synonyms:
embellishment; embroidery
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("embellishment" is a kind of...):
elaboration; enlargement; expansion (a discussion that provides additional information)
Derivation:
embellish (add details to)
