dec·or·ate [decoratedecoratesdecorateddecorating] BrE [ˈdekəreɪt] NAmE [ˈdekəreɪt] verb 1. transitive ~ sth (with sth) to make sth look more attractive by putting things on it • They decorated the room with flowers and balloons. • The cake was decorated to look like a car. 2. intransitive, transitive (especially BrE)to put paint, ↑wallpaper, etc. on the walls and ceilings of a room or house • I hate decorating. • He has his own painting and decorating business. •~ sth We need to decorate the sitting room. •The sitting room needs decorating. 3. transitive ~ sth to be placed on sth in order to make it look more attractive Syn: ↑adorn • Photographs of actors decorated the walls of the restaurant. 4. transitive, usually passive ~ sb (for sth) to give sb a ↑medal as a sign of respect for sth they have done • She was decorated for her efforts during the war. Verb forms:
Word Origin: mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘to grace or honour’): from Latin decoratus ‘embellished’ (past participle of decorare), from decus, decor- ‘beauty, honour, or embellishment’.
Thesaurus: decorate verb T •The cake was decorated with chocolate buttons. garnish • • edge • • trim • • hang • • deck • • illustrate • |formal adorn • • ornament • |literary festoon • decorate/garnish/edge/trim/hang/deck/illustrate/adorn/ornament/festoon sth with sth decorate/deck/festoon sth in sth richly decorated/adorned/ornamented
Collocations: Decorating and home improvement Houses refurbish/renovate/ (BrE) do up a building/a house convert a building/house/room into homes/offices/(especially NAmE) apartments/(BrE) flats extend/enlarge a house/building/room/kitchen build (BrE) an extension (to the back/rear of a house)/(NAmE) an addition (on/to sth)/(BrE) a conservatory knock down/demolish a house/home/building/wall knock out/through the wall separating two rooms Decoration furnish/paint/ (especially BrE) decorate a home/house/apartment/flat/room be decorated in bright colours/(especially US) colors/in a traditional style/with flowers/with paintings paint/plaster the walls/ceiling hang/put up/strip off/remove the wallpaper install/replace/remove the bathroom fixtures/(BrE) fittings build/put up shelves lay wooden flooring/timber decking/floor tiles/a carpet/a patio put up/hang/take down a picture/painting/poster/curtain DIY/home improvement do (BrE) DIY/carpentry/the plumbing/the wiring make home improvements add/install central heating/underfloor heating/insulation fit/install double-glazing/a smoke alarm insulate your house/your home/the walls/the pipes/the tanks/(especially BrE) the loft fix/repair a roof/a leak/a pipe/the plumbing/a leaking (especially BrE) tap/(NAmE usually) faucet block/clog (up)/unblock/unclog a pipe/sink make/drill/fill a hole hammer (in)/pull out/remove a nail tighten/untighten/loosen/remove a screw saw/cut/treat/stain/varnish/paint wood
Example Bank: •He was decorated for bravery. •The bedrooms are tastefully decorated. •The room is decorated in pale blues and greens. •The room was lavishly decorated with tinsel and holly. •the most highly decorated unit in the British Army
