1. Lit. to ornament something with something; to make beautiful with ornamentation; decorate

1. He embellished the painting with too many little decorations.

2. The room has been embellished with too many baroque sconces.

3. A book embellished with illustrations.

2. Fig. to add to a story with detail; enhance; to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details

1. The storyteller embellished the tale with the names of people in the audience.

2. I always try to embellish my tales with a little local color.

3. We embellished our account of the trip.

4. He embellished his speech with a few quotations.

3. Fig. to add untrue things to a story

1. He tends to embellish the truth with a few imaginative details.

2. There is no need to embellish this story with anything untrue.