ornate
awr-NAYT
Ornate (adj) means Elaborately decorated, often to the point of being excessive. Example: “The cathedral ceiling was covered in ornate carvings.”
adj
1
Elaborately decorated, often to the point of being excessive.
"The cathedral ceiling was covered in ornate carvings."
"She wore an ornate gold necklace to the gala."
How to use ornate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHeavily decorated, sometimes to the point of being over the top.
Common pairings
ornate design
ornate frame
ornate architecture
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- ornates
- Past tense
- ornated
- Comparative
- more ornate
- Superlative
- most ornate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cathedral ceiling was covered in _____ carvings.
Etymology
From Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare, "to adorn."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ornate
See all rhymes for ornate →Frequently asked questions
What does “ornate” mean?
The word “ornate” means elaborately decorated, often to the point of being excessive. In plain terms, heavily decorated, sometimes to the point of being over the top.
How do you pronounce “ornate”?
“Ornate” is pronounced awr-NAYT (/ɔɹˈneɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “ornate” in a sentence?
Here is “ornate” used in a sentence: “The cathedral ceiling was covered in ornate carvings.”
What part of speech is “ornate”?
“Ornate” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ornate” come from?
The word “ornate” comes from Latin. From Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare, "to adorn.".
Is “ornate” a common word?
“Ornate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
