decorate — [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
decorate — (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
decorate — [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
decorate — index embellish, honor Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
decorate — ornament, embellish, beautify, *adorn, deck, bedeck, garnish Analogous words: enhance, heighten, *intensify … New Dictionary of Synonyms
decorate — ► 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
decorate — [[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
decorate — 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
decorate */*/ — 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
decorate — dec|o|rate S3 [ˈdekəreıt] v [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: decoratus, past participle of decorare to decorate , from decus honour, decoration ] 1.) [I and T] BrE to paint the inside of a room, put special paper on the walls etc ▪ The bathroom … Dictionary of contemporary English
