Undecorating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of extracting embellishments or decorative elements from an environment or item
2. The act of dismantling ornate details or accessories from a structure or object
3. Taking away decorative items or adornments from a space or object

Etymology: "Undecorating" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "reverse or undo," attached to "decorate," which comes from the Latin "decorare," to adorn or make fitting. Put together, "undecorate" means to strip away the adornments that "decorate" added, and "undecorating" is simply its form describing that action in progress. The word follows the same pattern as many English verbs built with "un-" from a base verb, such as "unpack" or "unwrap," where the prefix reverses the action rather than negating an adjective. Its meaning is therefore literal and transparent: removing ornament from a structure or object, whether a room, a building, or a piece of furniture.

Synonyms: removing, stripping

Antonyms: decorating