em|bel|lish

em|bel|lish
em|bel|lish «ehm BEHL ihsh», transitive verb.
1. to add beauty to; decorate; adorn; ornament: »

She embellished the simple dress with colorful embroidery. He embellished his letters with clever sketches.

SYNONYM(S): beautify.
2. Figurative. to make more interesting by adding real or imaginary details; elaborate: »

He embellished the old stories so that they sounded new. He embellished his account of the fight until it became a legend.

–v.i.
to give embellishments; embroider.
[< Old French embelliss-, stem of embellir < en- in (< Latin in-) + bel handsome < Latin bellus]
em|bel´ish|er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dis|em|bel|lish — «DIHS ehm BEHL ihsh», transitive verb. to deprive of embellishment …   Useful english dictionary

  • em|bel|lish|ment — «ehm BEHL ihsh muhnt», noun. 1. decoration; adornment; ornament. 2. Figurative. detail, often imaginary, added to make a story or account more interesting. 3. the act or process of embellishing …   Useful english dictionary

  • em·bel·lish — …   Useful english dictionary

  • lish — em·bel·lish; em·bel·lish·er; em·bel·lish·ment; es·tab·lish; es·tab·lish·able; es·tab·lish·er; es·tab·lish·men·tar·i·an·ism; lish; pub·lish; pub·lish·able; pub·lish·er; pub·lish·ment; sa·lish; stab·lish; jap·lish; es·tab·lish·ment;… …   English syllables

  • bel — am·e·bel·o·don; an·te·bel·lum; ar·a·bel·la; ba·bel; ba·bel·ism; ba·bel·i·za·tion; ba·bel·ize; bar·bel·late; bar·bel·lu·la; bel; bel·dam; bel·em·nite; bel·em·nit·i·dae; bel·em·noi·dea; bel·fast; bel·fry; bel·ga; bel·gae; bel·gic; bel·gium;… …   English syllables

  • em|bel´ish|er — em|bel|lish «ehm BEHL ihsh», transitive verb. 1. to add beauty to; decorate; adorn; ornament: »She embellished the simple dress with colorful embroidery. He embellished his letters with clever sketches. SYNONYM(S): beautify. 2. Figurative. to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • embellish — em·bel·lish …   English syllables

  • embellisher — em·bel·lish·er …   English syllables

  • EM — EM; Em; em·a·gram; em·a·nant; em·a·nate; em·a·na·tion; em·a·na·tion·ism; em·a·na·tion·ist; em·a·na·tive; em·a·na·tor; em·a·na·tory; em·a·nom·e·ter; em·ba·dom·o·nas; em·bale; em·ball; em·bal·lo·nu·ri·dae; em·balm; em·balm·er; em·balm·ment;… …   English syllables

  • embellish — em•bel•lish [[t]ɛmˈbɛl ɪʃ[/t]] v. t. 1) to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; adorn 2) to enhance with elaborative additions • Etymology: 1300–50; ME < AF, MF embeliss em•bel′lish•er, n …   From formal English to slang

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