EMBELLISHMENT
Dictionary entry overview: What does embellishment mean?
• EMBELLISHMENT (noun)
The noun EMBELLISHMENT has 3 senses:
1. elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
2. a superfluous ornament
3. the act of adding extraneous decorations to something
Familiarity information: EMBELLISHMENT used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• EMBELLISHMENT (noun)
Meaning:
Elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
embellishment; embroidery
Context example:
the mystery has been heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings
Hypernyms ("embellishment" is a kind of...):
elaboration; enlargement; expansion (a discussion that provides additional information)
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)
Meaning:
The act of adding extraneous decorations to something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
embellishment; ornamentation
Hypernyms ("embellishment" is a kind of...):
decoration (the act of decorating something (in the hope of making it more attractive))
