Ornamental Meaning
/ˌɔː.nəˈmɛn.təl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjServing as an ornament; having no purpose other than to make more beautiful.
adjBred for aesthetic or decorative purposes.
Sentence Examples
Tom has several ornamental birds in his backyard as well as a garden gnome.
There is a tendency to utilize underground space for the less ornamental purposes of civilization.
Some Africans wear ornamental scars to identify their tribes.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The garden had many ____ plants that were not useful for food.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden featured several ____ trees that were pruned into decorative shapes each spring.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English ornament Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English ornamental From ornament + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We shall leave to the reader to determine with what judgment we have chosen the several occasions for inserting those ornamental parts of our work."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV:
"There were ornamental ponds and shrubs clipped into animal shapes, painted concrete gnomes sitting on mushrooms, pink flamingos standing on one leg[.]"
— 1968, Carl Ruhen, The Key Club, Sydney: Scripts, page 20:
"The tumbleweed is a gracious gift from the Russians, having been imported as a favored ornamental from the steppes of central Asia."
— 1991 October 10, Jackson Granholm, “In praise of the tumbleweed”, in News Chronicle, Thousand Oaks, Calif., page B-7, column 3:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The garden had many ____ plants that were not useful for food.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden featured several ____ trees that were pruned into decorative shapes each spring.