The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Embellishment \Em*bel"lish*ment\, n. [Cf. F. embellissement.]
   1. The act of adorning, or the state of being adorned;
      adornment.
      [1913 Webster]

            In the selection of their ground, as well as in the
            embellishment of it.                  --Prescott.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which adds beauty or elegance; ornament; decoration;
      as, pictorial embellishments.
      [1913 Webster]

            The graces and embellishments of the exterior man.
                                                  --I. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

embellishment
    n 1: elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative
         (sometimes fictitious) detail; "the mystery has been
         heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings"
         [syn: embellishment, embroidery]
    2: a superfluous ornament
    3: the act of adding extraneous decorations to something [syn:
       ornamentation, embellishment]