Frills

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /fɹɪlz/

Definitions

1. Extravagant decorations or accessories that enhance visual appeal
2. Superfluous embellishments or details that primarily serve an aesthetic purpose
3. Ruffles or gathered fabric sewn onto garments as ornamental edging ; extra features added to something mainly for decorative effect rather than necessity

Etymology: "Frills" is the plural of "frill," a noun for a strip of gathered or pleated cloth, or by extension any showy ornament added to something plain. The noun's origin is uncertain, but it is traceable to the Old French verb "friller," which probably meant to quiver or ripple, and the sense of rippling edges is what links the word to the ruffled trim on a collar or cuff. The plural form simply names several such extras together, and the move from cloth to figure of speech is an easy one: a frill on a dress is decoration that is not strictly needed, which is exactly what the modern sense of "unnecessary decorative extras" describes.

Synonyms: trimmings, ornaments, decorations, embellishments, accessories

Antonyms: essentials, necessities, fundamentals, basics, simplicities