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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Decorate: Meaning, Examples, and Common Collocations (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：make attractive (decorate)

decorate 🔊

/ˈdɛkəreɪt/

To make something look more attractive by adding things to it.

Hands decorating a Christmas tree with a shiny ornament

make attractive 🔊

➕

/meɪk əˈtræktɪv/

To add something to an object or space to improve its appearance or make it more appealing.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'decorare' (to adorn), from 'decus' (ornament).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'deck' + 'orate' → you 'deck orate' a room for a speech, meaning to decorate it.

📖 Example

My friend spent the whole weekend to decorate her new apartment with posters and fairy lights. 🔊 My friend dedicated the whole weekend to decorating her new apartment with posters and fairy lights.

🔗 Collocations

decorate with – add ornaments or accessories to something for enhancement

decorate for – prepare a place with decorations for a specific event

decorate a room – make a room attractive by adding items like paint, furniture, or ornaments

🔄 Synonyms

adorn (v.) – to add something decorative to an object or place

embellish (v.) – to make something more attractive by adding decorative details

ornament (v.) – to add decorative objects to something

🚫 Antonyms

strip (v.) – to remove all decorations or coverings from something

bare (v.) – to uncover or expose, removing any covering or decoration

denude (v.) – to strip away all covering, making something bare

🌱 Derivatives

decoration (n.) – the process or result of making something more attractive

decorative (adj.) – serving to make something look more attractive

decorator (n.) – a person who decorates, especially professionally

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'decorare' (to adorn), it shares roots with 'decus' (ornament) and 'decorum' (propriety). The sense of awarding medals emerged in the 18th century.

Meaning 2：award a medal (decorate)

decorate 🔊

/ˈdɛkəreɪt/

To give someone an official honor, usually a special medal or title.

Military officer receiving a medal during a ceremony

award a medal 🔊

➕

/əˈwɔːrd ə ˈmɛdəl/

To give someone an official honor, such as a medal or title, in recognition of their bravery or achievement.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The soldier was decorated for his extraordinary bravery during the rescue mission. 🔊 For his exceptional bravery in the rescue mission, the soldier was awarded a medal.

🔗 Collocations

be decorated for – receive an official honor for a specific achievement

decorate someone with – confer an honor upon someone, typically a medal

highly decorated – having received many honors or medals

🔄 Synonyms

honor (v.) – to give someone an official award or distinction

award (v.) – to give a prize or medal to someone for their achievements

confer (v.) – to grant a title, degree, or honor officially

🚫 Antonyms

dishonor (v.) – to treat someone without respect, opposite of honoring

disgrace (v.) – to bring shame upon someone, opposite of decorating with honor

ignore (v.) – to refuse to acknowledge someone's achievements, not giving any honor

🌱 Derivatives

decoration (n.) – a medal or honor given officially

decorated (adj.) – having received one or more official honors