Beautification

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bjuːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The act of enhancing the aesthetic value of a space or object through specific alterations or additions to its design and appearance
2. The process of improving the appearance of an area or object by making it visually more pleasing
3. An action taken to increase the charm or visual appeal of a place or thing

Etymology: "Beautification" is a straightforward formation: the verb "beautify" (to make beautiful) with the suffix "-ication," a combination built from the Latin-derived "-ication" ending that turns verbs into nouns of action. "Beautify" itself was formed in English from "beauty," so the word is a fully native-built chain of English-plus-Latin-suffix parts rather than a single imported term. The noun is first recorded in 1600, which places it in the Elizabethan period, when English writers were eagerly building abstract nouns from verbs and adjectives. Its sense has stayed close to its original meaning: the act or process of making something more attractive to look at, whether a garden, a city, or a room.

Synonyms: enhancement, improvement, ornamentation, decoration, adornment

Antonyms: degradation, deterioration, destruction, uglification, defacement