Meaning & use
festoons
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“festoons” is a form of “festoon”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Curved chains of flowers, paper, or lights hung as decoration between two points.
Grammar: Usually plural; the singular 'festoon' means one such curved chain.
Patterns
- festoons of flowers
- hang festoons
Festoons of flowers decorated the wedding hall.
They hung festoons of colored lights across the street.
verbtransitive
To decorate something by hanging chains of flowers, lights, or other items on it.
Grammar: Takes an object: festoon the room. Often used as 'be festooned with'.
Patterns
- festoon something with something
- be festooned with something
Volunteers festooned the square with paper lanterns.
The balcony was festooned with ivy and ribbon.
nounpluralmedicaltechnical
A curved fold of skin or flesh, especially under the eyes or on the neck.
Grammar: Usually plural and used in medical or descriptive writing.
Patterns
- festoons under the eyes
The condition causes festoons of loose skin under the eyes.
Surgeons can remove festoons on the lower eyelids.
Word forms
| singular | festoon |
|---|---|
| third person singular | festoons |
| past tense | festooned |
| past participle | festooned |
| -ing form | festooning |
Common combinations
- festooned with lights
- The garden was festooned with tiny white lights.
- festoons of flowers
- Festoons of flowers hung from every arch.
- hang festoons
- They hung festoons along the fence for the parade.
- festoon a room
- We festooned the room for her birthday.
- paper festoons
- Colorful paper festoons covered the ceiling.
Synonyms and how they differ
- garland
- A garland is usually a single ring or rope of flowers worn or hung; a festoon is a curved swag fixed at two points.
- bunting
- Bunting is rows of small triangular flags; festoons are chains of flowers, fabric, or lights.
- drape
- To drape means to hang cloth loosely; to festoon means to decorate with hanging chains, often more elaborately.
Word family
- festooned adjective
- Decorated with hanging chains of flowers, lights, or fabric.
- festooning noun
- The act or result of decorating with festoons.
Commonly confused: festoons or festive? festoons or balloon?
festoons vs festive
Festive means cheerful and related to a celebration; festoons are the hanging decorations themselves.
festoons vs balloon
A balloon is a single inflatable object; festoons are linked chains of decorations.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The verb 'festoon' takes the pattern 'festoon something with something', so 'festooned the hall with flowers' is correct. 'Festoon of' and the reversed order are not used in this structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “festoons”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.