French word

embellissement

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃belisəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noundecoration

Example

Elle a choisi un embellissement pour son cadeau.

She chose a decoration for her gift.

Illustration for embellissement (decoration)

More examples

La robe est belle sans embellissement excessif.

The dress is beautiful without excessive embellishment.

Core concept

The act of adding a pleasing visual detail, or the detail added, to an object.

Common phrases

  • sans embellissement

    without embellishment

  • mettre un embellissement discret

    add a subtle embellishment

Similar words

décoration: An ornament for improving a room or gift, or the act of decorating it.
décor: The interior design and arrangement that establish a room or shop's atmosphere.

Definition in French

Action ou résultat d'ajouter des éléments pour rendre quelque chose plus beau, surtout en apparence.

Word origin

Embellissement comes from Old French embellir, built on bel, 'beautiful', with the noun-forming suffix -issement.

Usage tips

  • The construction embellissement de + noun identifies what is improved or adorned, as in l'embellissement d'une pièce.

Other meanings

  • beautificationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • embellirembellishverb
  • embelliembellishedadjective

Word lists with this word