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Definition of decorate verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    decorate

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//ˈdɛkəˌreɪt//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they decorate
     
    he / she / it decorates
     
    past simple decorated
     
    -ing form decorating
     
     
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  1. 1[transitive] decorate something (with something) to make something look more attractive by putting things on it They decorated the room with flowers and balloons. The cake was decorated to look like a car.
  2. 2[transitive] decorate something to be placed on something in order to make it look more attractive synonym adorn Photographs of actors decorated the walls of the restaurant.
  3. 3[intransitive, transitive] to put paint, wallpaper, etc. on the walls and ceilings of a room or house decorate something We need to decorate the living room. The living room needs decorating.
  4. 4[transitive, usually passive] decorate somebody (for something) to give someone a medal as a sign of respect for something they have done She was decorated for her efforts during the war.
  5. Topic CollocationsDecorating and Home Improvementhouses
    • refurbish/renovate a building/a house
    • convert a building/house/room into homes/offices/ apartments/condominiums/condos
    • extend/enlarge a house/building/room/kitchen
    • build an addition (on/to something)/a sunroom/a deck
    • knock down/demolish a house/home/building/wall
    • knock out/down the wall separating two rooms
    decorating
    • furnish/paint/repaint a home/house/apartment/room
    • be decorated in bright colors/in a traditional style/with flowers/with paintings
    • paint/plaster the walls/ceiling
    • hang/put up/strip off/remove (the) wallpaper
    • install/replace/remove the bathroom fixtures
    • build/put up shelves
    • lay wooden flooring/timber decking/floor tiles/a carpet/a patio floor
    • put up/hang/take down a picture/painting/poster/curtain
    home improvement
    • do carpentry/the plumbing/the wiring (yourself)
    • make home improvements
    • add/install central heating/underfloor heating/insulation
    • install double-glazing/a smoke alarm
    • insulate your house/your home/the walls/the pipes/the tanks/the attic
    • fix/repair a roof/a leak/a pipe/the plumbing/a leaking faucet
    • block/clog (up)/unblock/unclog a pipe/sink/drain
    • make/drill/fill a hole
    • hammer (in)/pull out/remove a nail
    • tighten/loosen/remove a screw
    • saw/cut/treat/stain/varnish/paint wood
See decorate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary