The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Embroidery \Em*broid"er*y\, n.; pl. Embroideries.
   1. Needlework used to enrich textile fabrics, leather, etc.;
      also, the art of embroidering.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Diversified ornaments, especially by contrasted figures
      and colors; variegated decoration.
      [1913 Webster]

            Fields in spring's embroidery are dressed.
                                                  --Addison.
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            A mere rhetorical embroidery of phrases. --J. A.
                                                  Symonds.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

embroidery
    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: decorative needlework [syn: embroidery, fancywork]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

51 Moby Thesaurus words for "embroidery":
   adjunct, adornment, applique, arrangement, basting, beauties,
   binding, buttonholing, color, color patterns, colors,
   colors of rhetoric, crochet, decor, decoration, elaboration,
   elegant variation, embellishment, emblazonment, emblazonry, figure,
   figure of speech, fine writing, floridity, floridness, flourish,
   flower arrangement, floweriness, flowers of speech, frill,
   furniture arrangement, garnish, garnishment, garniture,
   illumination, knitting, lushness, luxuriance, macrame, needlepoint,
   netting, ornament, ornamentation, petit point, purple patches,
   quilting, ribbing, tatting, trim, trimming, window dressing