decorative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   That serves to decorate

   Elegant brick and stone buildings, with iron and glass canopies and decorative wooden scalloping and fencing—all evidencing care on the part of the architect to produce a pleasing, well-planned building—were submerged beneath a profusion of ill-conceived additions and camouflaged by vulgar paint schemes; and the original conception was lost.

2. 2
   noun

   A plant, tile, etc. intended for use as decoration.

   Analysts said the company’s results were in line, but noted that organic growth at the decoratives business was slightly weaker than expected.

3. 3
   adj

   serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose

Etymology

From Latin decorātus + -ive. Cognate with French décoratif.