decorate

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈdɛkəɹeɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #11767

Meanings

1

verb
To make something look more attractive by adding things to it.

We decorated the Christmas tree with tinsel and baubles.
2

verb
To paint or put up wallpaper in a room or building.

There's some paint left over from when we decorated the guest bedroom.
3

verb
To give someone a medal or honour for an achievement.

He was a decorated soldier who served in three wars.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something look more... ornament adorn

More adore apparel array beautify bedeck betrim commend deckdecoredetail dub

Opposites

defacedefiguredisfigure distort

Word family

Forms decorateddecoratesdecorating

Derived forms decoratabledecorativedecoratordecoratressdecoratrixdecorinimmunodecoratemisdecorateoverdecorateredecorateundecorate

Related forms beautiful decoration

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

decorate a tree
to hang ornaments, lights, or other items on a tree, especially a Christmas tree

Verb + noun

Etymology

From Middle English decorat (“adorned”), from Latin decorātus, perfect passive participle of decorō (“to adorn, distinguish, honor”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from decus (“ornament, grace, dignity, honor”, decor- in compounds), akin to decor (“elegance, grace, beauty, ornament”), from decet (“adorn, befit”).

*deḱ- Proto-Indo-European decorat Middle English decorātus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# decorate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɛkəɹeɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 11767

## Meanings
1. To make something look more attractive by adding things to it.
2. To paint or put up wallpaper in a room or building.
3. To give someone a medal or honour for an achievement.

## Examples
- We decorated the Christmas tree with tinsel and baubles.
- There's some paint left over from when we decorated the guest bedroom.
- He was a decorated soldier who served in three wars.

## Synonyms
- adore
- adorn
- apparel
- array
- beautify
- bedeck
- betrim
- commend
- deck
- decore
- detail
- dub

## Antonyms
- deface
- defigure
- disfigure
- distort

## Derived Forms
- decoratable
- decorative
- decorator
- decoratress
- decoratrix
- decorin
- immunodecorate
- misdecorate
- overdecorate
- redecorate
- undecorate

## Related Forms
- beautiful
- decoration

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *deḱ-
- Root: decorat
- Root: decorātus
- Affix: -ate - to make

## Etymology
From Middle English decorat (“adorned”), from Latin decorātus, perfect passive participle of decorō (“to adorn, distinguish, honor”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from decus (“ornament, grace, dignity, honor”, decor- in compounds), akin to decor (“elegance, grace, beauty, ornament”), from decet (“adorn, befit”).

## AI Etymology
decorate comes from Middle English decorat (“adorned”), from Latin decorātus, perfect passive participle of decorō (“to adorn, distinguish, honor”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from decus (“ornament, grace, dignity, honor”, decor- in compounds), akin to decor (“elegance, grace, beauty, ornament”), from decet (“adorn, befit”). The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-, Middle English decorat, Latin decorātus. Current senses include to make something look more attractive by adding things to it and to paint or put up wallpaper in a room or building. English relatives and later formations include decoratable, decorative, decorator, beautiful, decoration.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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