Décorer

Décorer is a French verb meaning to adorn, embellish, or ornament. It applies to adding beauty to objects, spaces, or surfaces, as well as to presenting food with decorative touches. In addition to beautification, décorer can mean to award a decoration or medal to a person.

It derives from the Latin decorare, meaning to adorn, through Old French decorer. The related noun décor refers to the art of decoration or the visible adornment of a space, while décoration denotes the act or result of decorating.

Common uses include decorating a room or exterior, decorating a cake or pastry, decorating a Christmas tree, or decorating a room for an event. In the military or civil service, to decorate someone means to award a medal or decoration: "Il a été décoré." The noun décoration is the prize or honor; décor denotes the stage or interior set in theatre and film.

Décorer is a regular -er verb. Present tense: je décore, tu décors, il décore, nous décorons, vous décorez, ils décorent. The past participle is décoré, used with auxiliary avoir: j'ai décoré. The verb is typically used with objects in the direct or indirect sense and with or without prepositions depending on construction.

Related forms include décorateur/décoratrice (decorator), décoration (decor, ornament), and décor (stage or interior set).