[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/decorative/)

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# decorative

adjective (decorative, more decorative, most decorative)

«decorative» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Decorative means used to make something look pretty or attractive, rather than to be useful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#m1)
2. Decorative can also describe someone or something that looks nice but does little work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#m2)

### In the lessons

In art and design lessons, decorative patterns, borders and lettering make work look attractive. At home, decorative cushions, plates and lights are for looks. In stories, «purely decorative» can be a joke about a useless thing. Common phrases: «decorative border», «purely decorative», «decorative arts», «decorative lights».

### Examples

- We drew a decorative border around our poems. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x1)
- The plates on Nan's wall are only decorative, not for eating off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x2)
- Christmas lights are decorative and cheerful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x3)
- The cake had decorative icing flowers on top. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x4)
- The old fireplace is decorative and never used. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x5)
- Celtic knots are a famous decorative pattern. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x6)
- The sword on the wall was purely decorative and very blunt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/#x7)

### Note

Say DEC-or-a-tive. Related: «decorate» (verb), «decoration» (noun). Opposite in meaning: «useful», «practical», «functional».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «decorative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decorative/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«decorative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decorative.html) on Mova free.