A decoration is something added to make a thing look nicer, from a string of lights to a pattern on a cake. In the plural it usually means festive decorations: Christmas decorations are tree ornaments and lights. The painted background of a play isn't called decorations: that's scenery or the set. In formal language, a decoration is also an award, such as an order or a medal.
decoration: will you get the meaning right?
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Christmas/party/birthday + decorations; put up / take down + the decorations; for decoration; interior decoration; a decoration for bravery
- We usually put up the Christmas decorations on the first weekend of December.
- The cake looked amazing, but the sugar flowers on top were only for decoration.
- After the party, nobody wanted to stay and take down the decorations.
What changed
First versionThe decorations for the school play looked like a real forest.
RevisionThe scenery for the school play looked like a real forest.
In some languages, the word for stage sets looks like decorations, but to an English speaker decorations are lights, balloons and tinsel. A painted forest, castle walls and everything that shows where the action happens on stage is scenery.
An order or medal for service is also a decoration: He received a decoration for bravery. The style and furnishings of a room or café are usually called decor: I love the decor in this café.
Your turn
We bought balloons and paper lanterns as ___ for Mia's birthday party.
Show the answer
decorations — Balloons and paper lanterns are party decorations, so the answer is decorations. Scenery means the set on a stage or the view out of a window, and it doesn't fit a birthday party at home.
Describe how you decorated your home or office for a holiday. Name the holiday and at least two decorations.
Before Christmas we put up decorations in the office: a small tree, paper snowflakes and fairy lights on the windows.
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