decorate

  • 1Decorate — Dec o*rate (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Decorated} (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a] t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Decorating} (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a] t[i^]ng).] [L. decoratus, p. p. of decorare, fr. decus ornament; akin to decere to be becoming. See… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2decorate — [dek′ə rāt΄] vt. decorated, decorating [< L decoratus, pp. of decorare, to decorate < decus, an ornament < IE base * dek̑, to receive, be suitable > DECENT] 1. to add something to so as to make more attractive; adorn; ornament 2. to… …

    English World dictionary

  • 3decorate — (v.) early 15c., from L. decoratus, pp. of decorare to decorate, adorn, embellish, beautify, from decus (gen. decoris) an ornament, from PIE root *dek to receive, be suitable (see DECENT (Cf. decent)). Related: Decorated; decorating …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4decorate — [v1] beautify, embellish add finishing touches, adorn, bedeck, bedizen, brighten, burnish, color, deck, do up*, dress out*, dress up*, enhance, enrich, festoon, finish, fix up, frill, furbish, garnish, gild, grace, gussy up*, idealize, illuminate …

    New thesaurus

  • 5decorate — index embellish, honor Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 6decorate — ornament, embellish, beautify, *adorn, deck, bedeck, garnish Analogous words: enhance, heighten, *intensify …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7decorate — ► VERB 1) make more attractive by adding ornamentation. 2) apply paint or wallpaper to. 3) confer an award or medal on. 4) (Decorated) denoting a stage of English Gothic church architecture of the 14th century with elaborate tracery. ORIGIN Latin …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8decorate — [[t]de̱kəreɪt[/t]] ♦♦♦ decorates, decorating, decorated 1) VERB If you decorate something, you make it more attractive by adding things to it. [V n with n] He decorated his room with pictures of all his favorite sports figures... [V n] Simply… …

    English dictionary

  • 9decorate — v. (D; tr.) ( to give a medal to ) to decorate for (to decorate a soldier for valor) * * * [ dekəreɪt] (D;tr.) ( to give a medal to ) to decorate for (to decorate a soldier for valor) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10decorate */*/ — UK [ˈdekəreɪt] / US [ˈdekəˌreɪt] verb Word forms decorate : present tense I/you/we/they decorate he/she/it decorates present participle decorating past tense decorated past participle decorated 1) a) [transitive] to make something look more… …

    English dictionary