"embellish" meaning in English

See embellish in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ/, /ɛm-/ Audio: en-us-embellish.ogg [US] Forms: embellishes [present, singular, third-person], embellishing [participle, present], embellished [participle, past], embellished [past]
Etymology: From Middle English embelishen, from Old French embellir, from em- + bel. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|embelishen}} Middle English embelishen, {{der|en|fro|embellir}} Old French embellir, {{m|fro|em-}} em-, {{m|fro|bel}} bel Head templates: {{en-verb}} embellish (third-person singular simple present embellishes, present participle embellishing, simple past and past participle embellished)
  1. To make more beautiful and attractive by adding ornamentation; to decorate. Categories (topical): Appearance Translations (to make more beautiful and attractive): جَمَّلَ (jammala) (Arabic), زَخْرَفَ (zaḵrafa) (Arabic), զարդարել (zardarel) (Armenian), украсявам (ukrasjavam) (Bulgarian), разкрасявам (razkrasjavam) (Bulgarian), 美化 (měihuà) (Chinese Mandarin), 修飾 (Chinese Mandarin), 修饰 (xiūshì) (Chinese Mandarin), verfraaien (Dutch), somistaa (english: make more beautiful and attractive) (Finnish), kaunistaa (Finnish), koristella (english: decorate) (Finnish), embellir (French), bereichern (German), schmücken (German), verschönern (German), διακοσμώ (diakosmó) (Greek), στολίζω (stolízo) (Greek), díszít (Hungarian), szépít (Hungarian), beleskar (Ido), maisigh (Irish), abbellire (Italian), agghindare (Italian), impreziosire (Italian), adornare (Italian), infronzolare (Italian), 飾る (kazaru) (alt: かざる) (Japanese), അലങ്കരിക്കുക (alaṅkarikkuka) (Malayalam), maihi (Maori), whakarārakai (Maori), whakarākai (Maori), whakarākei (Maori), whakahaumako (Maori), whakangako (Maori), آراستن (ârâstan) (Persian), embelezar (Portuguese), achalay (Quechua), украша́ть (ukrašátʹ) [imperfective] (Russian), укра́сить (ukrásitʹ) [perfective] (Russian), sgeadaich (Scottish Gaelic), embellecer (Spanish), försköna (Swedish), förfina (Swedish), utsmycka (Swedish), süslemek (Turkish), güzelleştirmek (Turkish), прикраша́ти (prykrašáty) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), прикра́шувати (prykrášuvaty) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), прикра́си́ти (prykrásýty) [perfective] (Ukrainian)
    Sense id: en-embellish-en-verb-CxLIpjDH Disambiguation of Appearance: 53 27 20 Disambiguation of 'to make more beautiful and attractive': 89 2 10
  2. (by extension) To enhance by adding something not strictly integral or necessary. Tags: broadly
    Sense id: en-embellish-en-verb-PUW~~-Vk
  3. To make something sound or look better or more acceptable than it is in reality; to distort, to embroider. Translations (to make sound or look better): جَمَّلَ (jammala) (Arabic), زَخْرَفَ (zaḵrafa) (Arabic), 點綴 (Chinese Mandarin), 点缀 (diǎnzhui) (Chinese Mandarin), 修飾 (Chinese Mandarin), 修饰 (xiūshì) (Chinese Mandarin), kaunistella (Finnish), parannella (Finnish), embellir (French), ausschmücken (German), verbrämen (German), schönreden (German), verschönern (German), idealisieren (German), kaschieren (German), εξωραΐζω (exoraḯzo) (Greek), szépít (Hungarian), kiszínez (Hungarian), imbellettare (Italian), abbellire (Italian), impreziosire (Italian), 尾鰭を付ける (ohire-o tsukeru) (alt: おひれをつける) (Japanese), maihi (Maori), whakamōmona kōrero (Maori), whakahaumako (Maori), embelezar (Portuguese), приукра́шивать (priukrášivatʹ) (Russian), sgeadaich (Scottish Gaelic), adornar (Spanish), försköna (Swedish), utsmycka (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-embellish-en-verb-QEJrjzLA Categories (other): English terms with collocations, English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with topic categories using raw markup Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 6 7 87 Disambiguation of English entries with topic categories using raw markup: 9 14 76 Disambiguation of 'to make sound or look better': 13 6 80
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: adorn, beautify, decorate, deck, grace, ornament, prettify

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for embellish meaning in English (15.0kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "embelishen"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English embelishen",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "embellir"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French embellir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "em-"
      },
      "expansion": "em-",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "bel"
      },
      "expansion": "bel",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English embelishen, from Old French embellir, from em- + bel.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "embellishes",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellishing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellished",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellished",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "embellish (third-person singular simple present embellishes, present participle embellishing, simple past and past participle embellished)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "53 27 20",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Appearance",
          "orig": "en:Appearance",
          "parents": [
            "Perception",
            "Body",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The old book cover was embellished with golden letters",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1998, C.H. Knowles, “Henry III (1207-1272; r. 1216-72)”, in Medieval England: An Encyclopedia, Garland Publishing, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 345, column 2",
          "text": "He was a notable patron of the arts who lavishly embellished his royal residences and rebuilt and enlarged Westminster Abbey, destined as the burialplace of himself and many of his successors, in honor of his patron saint, Edward the Confessor.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make more beautiful and attractive by adding ornamentation; to decorate."
      ],
      "id": "en-embellish-en-verb-CxLIpjDH",
      "links": [
        [
          "beautiful",
          "beautiful"
        ],
        [
          "attractive",
          "attractive"
        ],
        [
          "ornamentation",
          "ornamentation"
        ],
        [
          "decorate",
          "decorate"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "jammala",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "جَمَّلَ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "zaḵrafa",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "زَخْرَفَ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "roman": "zardarel",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "զարդարել"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "ukrasjavam",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "украсявам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "razkrasjavam",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "разкрасявам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "měihuà",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "美化"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "修飾"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "xiūshì",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "修饰"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "verfraaien"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "english": "make more beautiful and attractive",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "somistaa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "kaunistaa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "english": "decorate",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "koristella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "embellir"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "bereichern"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "schmücken"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "verschönern"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "diakosmó",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "διακοσμώ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "stolízo",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "στολίζω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "díszít"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "szépít"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "io",
          "lang": "Ido",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "beleskar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "maisigh"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "abbellire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "agghindare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "impreziosire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "adornare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "infronzolare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "alt": "かざる",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "kazaru",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "飾る"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ml",
          "lang": "Malayalam",
          "roman": "alaṅkarikkuka",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "അലങ്കരിക്കുക"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "maihi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "whakarārakai"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "whakarākai"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "whakarākei"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "whakahaumako"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "whakangako"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "ârâstan",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "آراستن"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "embelezar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "qu",
          "lang": "Quechua",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "achalay"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "ukrašátʹ",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "украша́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "ukrásitʹ",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "укра́сить"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "gd",
          "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "sgeadaich"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "embellecer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "försköna"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "förfina"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "utsmycka"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "süslemek"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "word": "güzelleştirmek"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "prykrašáty",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "прикраша́ти"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "prykrášuvaty",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "прикра́шувати"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "89 2 10",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "prykrásýty",
          "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "прикра́си́ти"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2012 December 29, Paul Doyle, “Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle”, in The Guardian, London",
          "text": "Podolski gave Walcott a chance to further embellish Arsenal's first-half performance when he eluded James Perch and slipped the ball through to the striker.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To enhance by adding something not strictly integral or necessary."
      ],
      "id": "en-embellish-en-verb-PUW~~-Vk",
      "links": [
        [
          "enhance",
          "enhance"
        ],
        [
          "strictly",
          "strictly"
        ],
        [
          "integral",
          "integral"
        ],
        [
          "necessary",
          "necessary"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) To enhance by adding something not strictly integral or necessary."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with collocations",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with collocations",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 7 87",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 14 76",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "to embellish a story, the truth",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make something sound or look better or more acceptable than it is in reality; to distort, to embroider."
      ],
      "id": "en-embellish-en-verb-QEJrjzLA",
      "links": [
        [
          "better",
          "better"
        ],
        [
          "acceptable",
          "acceptable"
        ],
        [
          "distort",
          "distort"
        ],
        [
          "embroider",
          "embroider"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "jammala",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "جَمَّلَ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "zaḵrafa",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "زَخْرَفَ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "點綴"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "diǎnzhui",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "点缀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "修飾"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "xiūshì",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "修饰"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "kaunistella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "parannella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "embellir"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "ausschmücken"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "verbrämen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "schönreden"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "verschönern"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "idealisieren"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "kaschieren"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "exoraḯzo",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "εξωραΐζω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "szépít"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "kiszínez"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "imbellettare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "abbellire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "impreziosire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "alt": "おひれをつける",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "ohire-o tsukeru",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "尾鰭を付ける"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "maihi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "whakamōmona kōrero"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "whakahaumako"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "embelezar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "priukrášivatʹ",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "приукра́шивать"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "gd",
          "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "sgeadaich"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "adornar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "försköna"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "13 6 80",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to make sound or look better",
          "word": "utsmycka"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ɛm-/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-embellish.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/7/7d/En-us-embellish.ogg/En-us-embellish.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/En-us-embellish.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "adorn"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "beautify"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "decorate"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "deck"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "grace"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "ornament"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "prettify"
    }
  ],
  "word": "embellish"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 3-syllable words",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "en:Appearance"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "embelishen"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English embelishen",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "embellir"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French embellir",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "em-"
      },
      "expansion": "em-",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "bel"
      },
      "expansion": "bel",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English embelishen, from Old French embellir, from em- + bel.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "embellishes",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellishing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellished",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "embellished",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "embellish (third-person singular simple present embellishes, present participle embellishing, simple past and past participle embellished)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The old book cover was embellished with golden letters",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1998, C.H. Knowles, “Henry III (1207-1272; r. 1216-72)”, in Medieval England: An Encyclopedia, Garland Publishing, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 345, column 2",
          "text": "He was a notable patron of the arts who lavishly embellished his royal residences and rebuilt and enlarged Westminster Abbey, destined as the burialplace of himself and many of his successors, in honor of his patron saint, Edward the Confessor.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make more beautiful and attractive by adding ornamentation; to decorate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "beautiful",
          "beautiful"
        ],
        [
          "attractive",
          "attractive"
        ],
        [
          "ornamentation",
          "ornamentation"
        ],
        [
          "decorate",
          "decorate"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2012 December 29, Paul Doyle, “Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle”, in The Guardian, London",
          "text": "Podolski gave Walcott a chance to further embellish Arsenal's first-half performance when he eluded James Perch and slipped the ball through to the striker.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To enhance by adding something not strictly integral or necessary."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "enhance",
          "enhance"
        ],
        [
          "strictly",
          "strictly"
        ],
        [
          "integral",
          "integral"
        ],
        [
          "necessary",
          "necessary"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) To enhance by adding something not strictly integral or necessary."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with collocations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "to embellish a story, the truth",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make something sound or look better or more acceptable than it is in reality; to distort, to embroider."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "better",
          "better"
        ],
        [
          "acceptable",
          "acceptable"
        ],
        [
          "distort",
          "distort"
        ],
        [
          "embroider",
          "embroider"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ɛm-/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-embellish.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/7/7d/En-us-embellish.ogg/En-us-embellish.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/En-us-embellish.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "adorn"
    },
    {
      "word": "beautify"
    },
    {
      "word": "decorate"
    },
    {
      "word": "deck"
    },
    {
      "word": "grace"
    },
    {
      "word": "ornament"
    },
    {
      "word": "prettify"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "jammala",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "جَمَّلَ"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "zaḵrafa",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "زَخْرَفَ"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "roman": "zardarel",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "զարդարել"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "ukrasjavam",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "украсявам"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "razkrasjavam",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "разкрасявам"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "měihuà",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "美化"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "修飾"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "xiūshì",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "修饰"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "verfraaien"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "english": "make more beautiful and attractive",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "somistaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "kaunistaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "english": "decorate",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "koristella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "embellir"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "bereichern"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "schmücken"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "verschönern"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "diakosmó",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "διακοσμώ"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "stolízo",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "στολίζω"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "díszít"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "szépít"
    },
    {
      "code": "io",
      "lang": "Ido",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "beleskar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "maisigh"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "abbellire"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "agghindare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "impreziosire"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "adornare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "infronzolare"
    },
    {
      "alt": "かざる",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "kazaru",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "飾る"
    },
    {
      "code": "ml",
      "lang": "Malayalam",
      "roman": "alaṅkarikkuka",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "അലങ്കരിക്കുക"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "maihi"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "whakarārakai"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "whakarākai"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "whakarākei"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "whakahaumako"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "whakangako"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "ârâstan",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "آراستن"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "embelezar"
    },
    {
      "code": "qu",
      "lang": "Quechua",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "achalay"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "ukrašátʹ",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "украша́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "ukrásitʹ",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "укра́сить"
    },
    {
      "code": "gd",
      "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "sgeadaich"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "embellecer"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "försköna"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "förfina"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "utsmycka"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "süslemek"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "word": "güzelleştirmek"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "prykrašáty",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "прикраша́ти"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "prykrášuvaty",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "прикра́шувати"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "prykrásýty",
      "sense": "to make more beautiful and attractive",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "прикра́си́ти"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "jammala",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "جَمَّلَ"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "zaḵrafa",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "زَخْرَفَ"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "點綴"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "diǎnzhui",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "点缀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "修飾"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "xiūshì",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "修饰"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "kaunistella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "parannella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "embellir"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "ausschmücken"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "verbrämen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "schönreden"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "verschönern"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "idealisieren"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "kaschieren"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "exoraḯzo",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "εξωραΐζω"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "szépít"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "kiszínez"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "imbellettare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "abbellire"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "impreziosire"
    },
    {
      "alt": "おひれをつける",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "ohire-o tsukeru",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "尾鰭を付ける"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "maihi"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "whakamōmona kōrero"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "whakahaumako"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "embelezar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "priukrášivatʹ",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "приукра́шивать"
    },
    {
      "code": "gd",
      "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "sgeadaich"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "adornar"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "försköna"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to make sound or look better",
      "word": "utsmycka"
    }
  ],
  "word": "embellish"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (210104c and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.