adj C2 Proficient Uncommon

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

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 notes

In plain EnglishHeavily decorated, sometimes to the point of being over the top.

Common pairings

ornate design ornate frame ornate architecture

Word forms

more ornate comparative, ornated past tense, ornates singular, most ornate superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The cathedral ceiling was covered in _____ carvings.

Etymology

From Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare, "to adorn."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for ornate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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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.