decoration

Etymology

From Latin decoratio: compare French décoration. Morphologically decorate + -ion

noun

1. The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.
2. Any item that adorns, enriches, or beautifies; something added by way of embellishment or ornamentation.
   At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth, stepped back from the tree and listened. There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision. 1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus
3. Specifically, any mark of honor to be worn upon the person, as a medal, cross, or ribbon of an order of knighthood, bestowed for services in war, great achievements in literature, art, etc.
4. (biochemistry, immunology) The use of exotic sugars as decoys to distract the immune system of a host