Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense festoons, present participle festooning, past tense, past participle festooned
verb [usually passive]
If something is festoonedwith, for example, lights, balloons, or flowers, large numbers of these things are hung from it or wrapped around it, especially in order to decorate it.
The temples are festooned with lights. [beV-ed + with/in]
...a lamppost festooned in political stickers. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: decorate, deck, array, drape More Synonyms of festoon
Festoon is also a noun.
...huge columns wreathed with festoons of laurel and magnolia.
More Synonyms of festoon
festoon in British English
(fɛˈstuːn)
noun
1.
a decorative chain of flowers, ribbons, etc, suspended in loops; garland
2.
a carved or painted representation of this, as in architecture, furniture, or pottery
3.
a.
the scalloped appearance of the gums where they meet the teeth
b.
a design carved on the base material of a denture to simulate this
4.
a.
either of two Zerynthia species of white pierid butterfly of southern Europe, typically mottled red, yellow, and brown
b.
an ochreous brown moth, Apoda avellana the unusual sluglike larvae of which feed on oak leaves
verb(transitive)
5.
to decorate or join together with festoons
6.
to form into festoons
Word origin
C17: from French feston, from Italian festone ornament for a feast, from festafeast
festoon in American English
(fɛsˈtun)
noun
1.
a wreath or garland of flowers, leaves, paper, etc. hanging in a loop or curve
2.
any carved or molded decoration resembling this, as on furniture
verb transitive
3.
to adorn or hang with festoons
4.
to form into a festoon or festoons
5.
to join by festoons
Word origin
Fr feston < It festone < festa < VL: see feast
Examples of 'festoon' in a sentence
festoon
It is festooned with posters of his bearded face.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The village was festooned with flowers and vines had been strung from house to house.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
London is festooned in flags and banners.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Photographs of his career festooned the walls, and albums would be brought from the back room at the merest beckoning.
John Fisher Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing (2006)
One wall is festooned with PR awards.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The walls are festooned with photographs of its famous alumni, the actors who have performed in the RSC and made merry over the years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
festoon
architectural features, butterfly
In other languages
festoon
British English: festoon VERB
If something is festooned with, for example, lights, balloons, or flowers, large numbers of these things are hung from it or wrapped around it.
The temples are festooned with lights.
American English: festoon
Brazilian Portuguese: enfeitar
Chinese: 以...装饰
European Spanish: engalanar
French: décorer
German: behängen
Italian: addobbare
Japanese: 花づなで飾る
Korean: 장식하다
European Portuguese: enfeitar
Latin American Spanish: engalanar
Chinese translation of 'festoon'
festoon
(fɛsˈtuːn)
vt
to be festooned with给(給) ... 饰(飾)以花饰(飾) (gěi ... shìyǐ huāshì)
(noun)
Definition
a decorative chain of flowers or ribbons suspended in loops
festoons of laurel and magnolia
Synonyms
decoration
We were putting the Christmas decorations up.
garland
They wore garlands of summer flowers in their hair.
swathe
wreath
She wore a wreath of jasmine flowers in her hair.
swag
lei
chaplet
(verb)
Definition
to drape with decorations
The temples are festooned with lights.
Synonyms
decorate
He decorated the box with glitter and ribbons.
deck
The house was decked with flowers.
array
a priest arrayed in white vestments
drape
He draped himself in the flag.
garland
Players were garlanded with flowers.
swathe
She swathed herself in thin black fabrics.
bedeck
Flags bedeck the balcony.
wreathe
The temple's huge columns were wreathed in laurels.