ornate Hear it!

ornate Definition

or·nate (ôr nāt)

adjective

  1. heavily ornamented or adorned, often to excess
  2. showy or flowery, as some literary styles

Etymology: ME < L ornatus, pp. of ornare: see ornament

ornate Related Forms

or·nately adverb or·nate·ness noun

ornate Synonyms

ornate

modif.

  1. Highly decorated

    showy, flamboyant, bedight*, superficial*, curved*, flowery*, resplendent*, sumptuous*, lavish*, bespangled, many-colored*, brilliant*, parti-colored*, bright*, colored*, tinseled, jeweled, embroidered, begilt, glossy*, tessellated, burnished, polished*, gorgeous*, pompous*, stylish*, magnificent*, adorned*, festooned, trimmed, gilded, embellished, furbished, encrusted, striped*, waved, scrolled, inlaid*, illuminated*, garnished, decked, bedecked, flowered*, glowing*, vivid*, variegated*, radiant*, fine*, gay*, alluring*, dazzling, sparkling*, scintillating, shining*, flashing*, glistening, glamorous*, glittering, grotesque*, ornamented, artificial*, ostentatious*, pretentious*, flaunting*, baroque*, rococo*, gaudy*, glitzy*, tawdry*, flashy*, meretricious; *see also elaborate 1.

  2. Referring to writing or speech

    adorned, ornamented, embellished, euphuistic; see elegant 3.

ornate Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • plasterwork: The decor is outstanding, with original ornate plasterwork.
  • cornice: Original and elegant features have been lovingly restored with ornate cornices and stained glass windows.
  • valance: The present day canopies this side of the station building remain faithful to the original designs, although now incorporate less ornate valances.
  • carving: Click on the links below to have a go at copying the ornate carvings on the columns, or creating a symmetrical ceiling rose.
  • ironwork: The ornate ironwork of the sanctuary screen was formed out of yet more scrap.
  • ceiling: The hall has large marble pillars that hold up the ornate, high ceiling.

Modifying Another Word

  • wonderfully: Stephen's Day ) other ancient codices are permanently on exhibition in the wonderfully ornate 19th-century library.
  • beautifully: A set of beautifully ornate iron gates separates the East wing from the nave, built by William Edney in 1710.
  • highly: Today a highly ornate mace forms the centerpiece in the civic regalia of many councils across the country.
  • extremely: Some are quite simple in outline whilst others can be extremely ornate.
  • rather: It's going to have one of those rather ornate gold frames that Alan has just made.
  • quite: Here you can view the quite ornate Borthwick effigies lying in their serene setting.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: During the Middle Ages, devotion to saints became overly ornate.
  • include: Many new pedigree layouts including ornate ' Copperplate ' styles.

Browse dictionary entries near ornate

  1. ornamentation
  2. ornamental
  3. ornament
  4. Ormuz
  5. ormolu
  6. ormer
  7. Ormazd
  8. orlop
  9. Orlon
  10. Orleanist
  1. ornery
  2. ornis
  3. ornithic
  4. ornithine
  5. ornithischian
  6. ornitho-
  7. ornithoid
  8. ornithology
  9. ornithopod
  10. ornithopter