embellish Hear it!

embellish Definition

em·bel·lish (em belis̸h, im-)

transitive verb

  1. to decorate or improve by adding detail; ornament; adorn
  2. to add grace notes, syncopated accents, trills, etc. to (a melody)
  3. to improve (an account or report) by adding details, often of a fictitious or imaginary kind; touch up

Etymology: ME embelishen < extended stem of OFr embellir < em- (L in) + bel < L bellus, beautiful

embellish Synonyms

embellish

v.

adorn, ornament, deck; see decorate. See syn. study at decorate.

embellish Usage Examples

Object

  • cap: They do not wear a Naval type uniform but instead wear a sweatshirt and baseball cap embellished with the Sea Cadet Corps badge.
  • truth: The impostor lies, or embellishes the truth in order to sustain his fantasy.
  • story: It was a common extravagance to embellish the story of a dramatic cure.
  • fact: Help me not to embellish the facts, or be worried about what people might think of me.
  • account: Verse 16 has the later E and P traditions with the more embellished account.
  • place: John would embellish that place to make it sound beautiful.

Preposition: with

  • embroidery: The front panel is embellished with gorgeous floral embroidery for an extra special touch.
  • plantation: Falkland House, the seat of the family of Bruce, is an elegant mansion beautifully situated, and embellished with thriving plantations.
  • firework: This tradition of outdoor concerts has been preserved for 50 years, and now often embellished with fireworks and laser shows.
  • motif: It is embellished with two silver motifs held in place with black stretch binding at the back.
  • bead: Other projects include crazy paving, flower pots, a clock embellished with gold beads.
  • detail: They are all embellished with an intricate detail of hand woven fabric.

Preposition: over

  • year: Stories get handed down and often get embellished over the years.

Modifying Another Word

  • richly: The palace is richly embellished throughout with lavish stone carvings.
  • often: Using bold color and fluid lines, my paintings are often embellished with print and stitch.
  • then: They are painted or dyed and then embellished with stitching to produce wall hangings, framed pictures and scarves.
  • not: Steve Moore has told the tale cleanly, not embellishing it with the superfluous.
  • greatly: Solomon's Lavish Empire: For years critics considered the Bible's lavish descriptions of Solomon's empire to be greatly embellished.