or·na·men·ta·tion \ˌȯ(r)nəmən.ˈtāshən, -ˌmen.-\noun (-s) Etymology:ornament (II) + -ation 1.: the act or process of ornamenting or the state of being ornamented < an effort at ornamentation which did little to conceal the poverty of his imagination > 2.: a decorative device : embellishment; collectively: ornaments 3.: characteristic markings or sculpture on the body of an animal