transitive verb
1
: to represent or give an account of in words
The police asked her to describe the thief.
There were so many things he wanted to describe …—
James Joyce
2
: to represent by a figure, model, or picture : delineate
described in her paintings what she saw from her window
4
: to trace or traverse the outline of
Synonyms
Example Sentences
The witness wasn’t able to describe the robber.
He described the house in perfect detail.
The article describes how the experiment was done.
She described watching dolphins play beside the ship.
Please describe what happened next.
Can you describe the lost dog to me?
She used a stick to describe a circle on the ground.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Beginning April 11, state police will notify the courts daily and securely transfer files of all eligible convictions set aside in its criminal history database, according to plans described on the state police website.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2023
This set also contains what appears to be intelligence on North Korean preparations for an ICBM test flight and describes North Korea’s display of ICBM launchers at a recent parade as overselling their actual capabilities.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2023
Officials have identified the weapon as an AR-15 and described the attack as targeted.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2023
According to surveillance camera footage described in court records, two groups of people appeared to converge and take up positions around the man — one coming from the east, the other from the west.
—Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2023
Less generous readers might protest that this describes social theory, or even poetry or philosophy, not history, and that Graeber has committed the error here of confusing one for the other.
—Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 11 Apr. 2023
The account posted other explicit passages and images, including one showing a woman in underwear, and anyone who clicked on the profile could see that the account described itself as a 19-year-old woman who would sell private images to paying buyers.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2023
The pop star also describes her country counterpart as a light who attracts contestants to his presence (the clip includes plenty of hopefuls declaring their desire to join Team Blake).
—Calie Schepp, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2023
Since then, technical improvements have allowed the group to surpass ACME’s record by a factor of 2.4, as described in a recent preprint led by Cornell’s former graduate student Tanya Roussy.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 10 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘describe.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin describere, from de- + scribere to write — more at scribe
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of describe was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near describe
Cite this Entry
“Describe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/describe. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
de·scribe
(dĭ-skrīb′)
tr.v. de·scribed, de·scrib·ing, de·scribes
1. To give an account of in speech or writing: describe a sea voyage.
2. To convey an idea or impression of; characterize: She described her childhood as a time of wonder and discovery.
3. To represent pictorially; depict: Goya’s etchings describe the horrors of war in grotesque detail.
4. To trace the form or outline of: describe a circle with a compass.
[Middle English describen, from Latin dēscrībere, to write down : dē-, de- + scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]
de·scrib′a·ble adj.
de·scrib′er n.
Synonyms: describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report
These verbs mean to tell the facts, details, or particulars of something in speech or in writing: described the accident; narrated their travel experiences; an explorer reciting her adventures; a mercenary recounting his exploits; related the day’s events; reported what she had seen.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
describe
(dɪˈskraɪb)
vb (tr)
1. to give an account or representation of in words
2. to pronounce or label: he has been described as a genius.
3. to draw a line or figure, such as a circle
[C15: from Latin dēscrībere to copy off, write out, delineate, from de- + scrībere to write]
deˈscribable adj
deˈscriber n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•scribe
(dɪˈskraɪb)
v.t. -scribed, -scrib•ing.
1. to tell or depict in words; give an account of: to describe an accident in detail.
2. to pronounce, as by a designating term or phrase: to describe someone as a tyrant.
3. to represent or delineate by a picture.
4. to draw or trace the outline of: to describe an arc.
[1400–50; < Latin dēscrībere=dē- de- + scrībere to write]
de•scrib′a•ble, adj.
de•scrib′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
describe
The verb describe can be used either with a direct object or with a wh-clause.
1. used with a direct object
When you describe someone or something, you say what they are like.
Can you describe your son?
You can use describe with a direct object and an indirect object. The direct object goes first.
He described the murderer in detail to the police officer.
She described the feeling to me.
2. used with a wh-clause
Describe can be used in front of various kinds of wh-clause.
The man described what he had seen.
He described how he escaped from prison.
You can use describe with an indirect object and a wh-clause. The indirect object goes first.
I can’t describe to you what it was like.
I described to him what had happened in Patricia’s house.
Be Careful!
When you use describe with an indirect object, you must put to in front of the indirect object. Don’t say, for example, ‘She described me the feeling‘ or ‘I can’t describe you what it was like‘.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
describe
Past participle: described
Gerund: describing
| Imperative |
|---|
| describe |
| describe |
| Present |
|---|
| I describe |
| you describe |
| he/she/it describes |
| we describe |
| you describe |
| they describe |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I described |
| you described |
| he/she/it described |
| we described |
| you described |
| they described |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am describing |
| you are describing |
| he/she/it is describing |
| we are describing |
| you are describing |
| they are describing |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have described |
| you have described |
| he/she/it has described |
| we have described |
| you have described |
| they have described |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was describing |
| you were describing |
| he/she/it was describing |
| we were describing |
| you were describing |
| they were describing |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had described |
| you had described |
| he/she/it had described |
| we had described |
| you had described |
| they had described |
| Future |
|---|
| I will describe |
| you will describe |
| he/she/it will describe |
| we will describe |
| you will describe |
| they will describe |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have described |
| you will have described |
| he/she/it will have described |
| we will have described |
| you will have described |
| they will have described |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be describing |
| you will be describing |
| he/she/it will be describing |
| we will be describing |
| you will be describing |
| they will be describing |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been describing |
| you have been describing |
| he/she/it has been describing |
| we have been describing |
| you have been describing |
| they have been describing |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been describing |
| you will have been describing |
| he/she/it will have been describing |
| we will have been describing |
| you will have been describing |
| they will have been describing |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been describing |
| you had been describing |
| he/she/it had been describing |
| we had been describing |
| you had been describing |
| they had been describing |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would describe |
| you would describe |
| he/she/it would describe |
| we would describe |
| you would describe |
| they would describe |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have described |
| you would have described |
| he/she/it would have described |
| we would have described |
| you would have described |
| they would have described |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Verb | 1. | describe — give a description of; «He drew an elaborate plan of attack»
depict, draw represent — describe or present, usually with respect to a particular quality; «He represented this book as an example of the Russian 19th century novel» delineate — describe in vivid detail exposit, set forth, expound — state; «set forth one’s reasons» adumbrate, outline, sketch — describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of; «sketch the outline of the book»; «outline his ideas» |
| 2. |  describe — to give an account or representation of in words; «Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental»
report, account inform — impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; «I informed him of his rights» |
|
| 3. |  describe — make a mark or lines on a surface; «draw a line»; «trace the outline of a figure in the sand»
trace, draw, line, delineate mark — make or leave a mark on; «the scouts marked the trail»; «ash marked the believers’ foreheads» construct — draw with suitable instruments and under specified conditions; «construct an equilateral triangle» inscribe — draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible circumscribe — draw a line around; «He drew a circle around the points» circumscribe — to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect draw — engage in drawing; «He spent the day drawing in the garden» draw — represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface; «She drew an elephant»; «Draw me a horse» write — mark or trace on a surface; «The artist wrote Chinese characters on a big piece of white paper»; «Russian is written with the Cyrillic alphabet» |
|
| 4. | describe — identify as in botany or biology, for example
key, key out, distinguish, identify, name, discover |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
describe
verb
1. relate, tell, report, present, detail, explain, express, illustrate, set out, specify, chronicle, recount, recite, impart, narrate, set forth, give an account of, put in words We asked her to describe what she had seen.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
describe
verb
1. To give a verbal account of:
2. To present a lifelike image of:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَصِفيَصِفُيُعَرِّفُ نَفْسَه إنَّه
popsatvydávat secharakterizovat
beskrivebetegnekaldeskildre
kirjeldama
kuvaillakuvata
opisati
ecsetelleír
lÿsasegjast vera; lÿsa sjálfum sér sem
記述する
묘사하다
aprašymasnusakymaspapasakojimaspapasakoti
aprakstītattēlotuzskatīt
povedať
opisati
beskriva
อธิบาย
mô tả
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
describe
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
describe
[dɪsˈkraɪb] vt → descrivere
describe him for us → descrivicelo
she describes herself as a teacher → dice di essere insegnante
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
describe
(diˈskraib) verb
1. to give an account of in words; to tell in words what something or someone is like. He described what had happened; Would you describe her as beautiful?
2. to say that one is something. He describes himself as a salesman.
deˈscription (-ˈskrip-) noun
1. (an) act of describing. I recognized him from your description.
2. an account of anything in words. He gave a description of his holiday.
3. a sort or kind. He carried a gun of some description.
to describe (not describe about) a scene.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
describe
→ يَصِفُ popsat beskrive beschreiben περιγράφω describir kuvailla décrire opisati descrivere 記述する 묘사하다 beschrijven beskrive opisać descrever описывать beskriva อธิบาย betimlemek mô tả 描述
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
describe
vt. describir, narrar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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1
DESCRIBE
English-Russian SQL Server dictionary > DESCRIBE
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2
describe
1) опи́сывать, изобража́ть; характеризова́ть(ся);
2)
геом.
начерти́ть, постро́ить ( фигуру)
3) описа́ть (круг, кривую)
Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > describe
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3
describe
Персональный Сократ > describe
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4
describe
1. III
1) describe smb., smth. describe one’s acquaintance описать своего знакомого и т. д., we asked him to describe his impressions мы попросили его поделиться своими впечатлениями
2) describe smth. describe a straight line начертить прямую [линию] и т. д.’, describe a circle описать окружность
2. IV
describe smb., smth. in some manner describe smb., smth. vaguely описывать /обрисовывать, охарактеризовывать/ кого-л., что-л. туманно и т. д.; he described the event quite accurately он весьма точно изобразил /описал/ это событие; she briefly described the situation она кратко /коротко/ обрисовала положение; he vividly described the life of a village он нарисовал яркую картину сельской жизни
3. XI
be described as being of some kind he is described as being very clever его характеризуют как очень умного человека, о нем отзываются /говорят/ как об очень умном человеке
4. XXI1
describe smth., smb. to smb. describe the place to one’s friends описать своим друзьям это место и т. д.; describe one’s friends to his mother рассказать своей матери, какие у него друзья
5. XXIV1
describe smb. as smb. describe smb. as one’s brother выдавать кого-л. за своего брата и т. д., называть кого-л. своим братом и т. д.; he describes himself as a doctor он называет себя врачом, он выдает себя за врача; describe smth. as smth. describe this venture as a failure представлять это предприятие как неудачу и т. д. ; he described the picture as a masterpiece он охарактеризовал эту картину как шедевр
6. XXIV2
describe smth., smb. as possessing some quality she described the boy’s behaviour as very strange она сказала, что мальчик вел себя очень странно; describe smb. as being dependable охарактеризовать кого-л. как надежного и т. д. человека
7. XXV
describe what… describe what one saw описывать, что видел и т. д.
8. XXVII1
describe to smb. what… describe to him what one saw описывать кому-л., что видел и т. д.
English-Russian dictionary of verb phrases > describe
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5
describe
[dɪsˈkraɪb]
describe вычерчивать describe изображать describe описать (круг, кривую); начертить describe описывать, изображать; характеризовать(ся); to describe one’s purposes изложить свои намерения describe вчт. описывать describe описывать describe вчт. характеризовать describe характеризовать describe in detail описать подробно describe описывать, изображать; характеризовать(ся); to describe one’s purposes изложить свои намерения
English-Russian short dictionary > describe
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describe
[dɪs’kraɪb]
v
описывать, изображать, характеризовать, характеризоваться, рассказывать
The book describes the first days of the war. — В книге описываются первые дни войны.
I wouldn’t describe him as stupid. — Я бы не сказал, что он глуп.
I would describe him as an excellent teacher. — Я бы сказал, что он прекрасный преподаватель.
The prisoner described himself as an unemployed painter. — Арестованный назвался безработным художником.
— describe smb, smth
— describe smb, smth to smb
— describe in detail
— describe vividly
— be fully described
— describe smth in detail
— describe smb as a heroUSAGE:
(1.) Глагол to describe относится к группе глаголов, с которыми косвенное дополнение, отвечающее на вопрос кому?, всегда употребляется с предлогом to независимо от его места в предложении: обычно оно стоит, в отличие от русского, после прямого дополнения: describe your house to me, please опиши мне свой дом. Предложное косвенное дополнение to smb стоит первым в тех случаях, когда прямое дополнение выражено распространенной именной фразой или придаточным предложением: describe to him how it should be done опиши ему, как это надо делать. Косвенное дополнение обычно опускается, если оно ясно из ситуации. К этой группе глаголов принадлежат to explain, to prove, to dictate, to foretell. (2.) See explain, v; USAGE (1.), (2.).
English-Russian combinatory dictionary > describe
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7
describe
dɪsˈkraɪb гл.
1) описывать, рассказывать, изображать;
характеризовать(ся) (as) to describe in detail, to describe minutely ≈ подробно описывать to describe vividly ≈ живо описывать I would describe him as an excellent teacher. ≈ Я бы сказал, что он прекрасный преподаватель. Would you describe this piece of music as well written? ≈ Можно ли сказать об этой вещи, что она хорошо написана? The prisoner described himself as an unemployed painter. ≈ Арестованный назвался безработным художником. Syn: portray, depict, report
2) мат. описать (одну фигуру вокруг другой) ;
начертить to describe arc ≈ описывать дугу
описывать, изображать — to * a person описать человека — to * one’s purposes изложить свои намерения — to * smb.’s views охарактеризовать чьи-л. взгляды — to * smth. as good /to be good/ описать или охарактеризовать что-л. с хорошей стороны — he was *d as being very clever о нем говорили, что он очень умен описывать — words cannot * this scene слова бессильны описать эту сцену описывать;
вычерчивать — to * a circle описать окружность — to * a triangle построить треугольник
describe вычерчивать ~ изображать ~ описать (круг, кривую) ;
начертить ~ описывать, изображать;
характеризовать(ся) ;
to describe one’s purposes изложить свои намерения ~ вчт. описывать ~ описывать ~ вчт. характеризовать ~ характеризовать
~ in detail описать подробно
~ описывать, изображать;
характеризовать(ся) ;
to describe one’s purposes изложить свои намеренияБольшой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > describe
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8
describe
[dısʹkraıb]
1. 1) описывать, изображать
to describe smb.’s views — охарактеризовать чьи-л. взгляды
to describe smth. as good /to be good/ — описать охарактеризовать что-л. с хорошей стороны
he was described as being very clever — о нём говорили, что он очень умён
2) описывать
2. описывать; вычерчивать
НБАРС > describe
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9
describe
[dɪ’skraɪb]
гл.
1) описывать, рассказывать, изображать; характеризовать
to describe in detail / minutely — подробно описывать
to describe accurately / exactly — описывать точно
to describe fully / briefly — давать полное / краткое описание
I would describe him as an excellent teacher. — Я бы охарактеризовал его как прекрасного преподавателя.
The prisoner described himself as an unemployed painter. — Арестованный назвался безработным художником.
Syn:
2) описывать, вычерчивать
to describe a circle / an arc — описывать круг / дугу
Англо-русский современный словарь > describe
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describe
Англо-русский синонимический словарь > describe
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11
describe
описывать: to describe smb, smth — описывать, изображать, характеризовать кого-либо, что-либо; to describe smb, smth to smb — описывать кому-либо кого-либо, что-либо
(1). Глагол to describe относится к группе глаголов, с которыми косвенное дополнение, отвечающее на вопрос кому?, всегда употребляется с предлогом to независимо от его места в предложении: обычно оно стоит, в отличие от русского, после прямого дополнения:Describe your house to me, please — Опиши мне свой дом.
Предложное косвенное дополнение to smb стоит первым в тех случаях, когда прямое дополнение выражено распространенной именной фразой или придаточным предложением:
Describe to him how it should be done — Опиши ему, как это надо делать.
Косвенное дополнение обычно опускается, если оно ясно из ситуации. К этой группе глаголов принадлежат to explain, to prove, to dictate, to foretell.
(2). See explain, .English-Russian word troubles > describe
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12
describe
1. v описывать, изображать
2. v описывать; вычерчивать
Синонимический ряд:
1. depict (verb) account; characterize; delineate; depict; explicate; illustrate; image; interpret; limn; picture; portray; render; represent; show; specify
2. outline (verb) inform; outline; recapitulate; summarise; summarize
3. relate (verb) narrate; recite; recount; rehearse; relate; report; state
Антонимический ряд:
confound; confuse; distort; misrepresent
English-Russian base dictionary > describe
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13
describe
2) описывать; вычерчивать
•
English-Russian scientific dictionary > describe
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14
describe
English-Russian big medical dictionary > describe
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15
describe
[dɪs’kraɪb]
v
1) описывать, рассказывать, повествовать
2) определить, характеризовать, навесить ярлык
3) описать, начертить
2000 самых употребительных английских слов > describe
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16
describe
2) расписывать (
в знач.
подробно описывать, излагать)
The Supplier shall fully describe all deviations from Поставщик подробно расписывает все отступления от;
The following documentation will describe the functions of the Logistics Support Facility Функции базы материально-технического обеспечения расписаны в следующих документах
3) интерпретировать
English-Russian dictionary of scientific and technical difficulties vocabulary > describe
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describe
1) описывать
2) изображать
3) начертить
4) охарактеризовать
– describe arcАнгло-русский технический словарь > describe
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18
describe
v
описывать; изображать; характеризовать
Politics english-russian dictionary > describe
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19
describe
описывать; характеризовать
English-Russian dictionary of computer science and programming > describe
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20
describe
verb
1) описывать, изображать; характеризовать(ся); to describe one’s purposes изложить свои намерения
2) описать (круг, кривую); начертить
Syn:
portray
* * *
(v) конкретизировать; описать; описывать
* * *
описывать, рассказывать, изображать
* * *
[de·scribe || dɪ’skraɪb]
описывать, описать, изображать, характеризовать, характеризоваться, охарактеризовать, построить, начертить* * *
изображать
изобразить
начертить
описать
описывать
опишите
характеризовать
* * *
1) описывать, рассказывать, изображать; характеризовать(ся) (as)
2) мат. описать (одну фигуру вокруг другой)Новый англо-русский словарь > describe
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См. также в других словарях:
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Describe — De*scribe , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Described}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Describing}.] [L. describere, descriptum; de + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. d[ e]crire. See {Scribe}, and cf. {Descry}.] 1. To represent by drawing; to draw… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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describe — I verb annotate, be specific, characterize, clarify, define, delineate, depict, depingere, describere, detail, elucidate, explain, explicare, expound, give an account, identify, illuminate, illustrate, itemize, make clear, make plain, make vivid … Law dictionary
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Describe — De*scribe , v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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describe — early 13c., descriven, from O.Fr. descrivre, descrire (13c.), from L. describere to write down, copy; sketch, represent (see DESCRIPTION (Cf. description)). Reconstructed with Latin spelling 16c. Related: Describable; described, describes,… … Etymology dictionary
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describe — *relate, narrate, state, report, rehearse, recite, recount Analogous words: delineate, *sketch, outline … New Dictionary of Synonyms
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describe — [v] explain in speech, writing call, characterize, chronicle, communicate, construe, convey image, define, delineate, depict, detail, distinguish, draw, elucidate, epitomize, exemplify, explicate, expound, express, illuminate, illustrate, image,… … New thesaurus
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describe — ► VERB 1) give a detailed account in words of. 2) mark out or draw (a geometrical figure). DERIVATIVES describable adjective describer noun. ORIGIN Latin describere write down … English terms dictionary
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describe — [di skrīb′] vt. described, describing [ME descriven < OFr descrivre < L describere, to copy down, transcribe < de , from + scribere, to write: see SCRIBE] 1. to tell or write about; give a detailed account of 2. to picture in words 3. to … English World dictionary
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describe */*/*/ — UK [dɪˈskraɪb] / US verb [transitive] Word forms describe : present tense I/you/we/they describe he/she/it describes present participle describing past tense described past participle described 1) a) to give details about what someone or… … English dictionary
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describe — de|scribe W1S1 [dıˈskraıb] v [T] [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: describere, from scribere to write ] 1.) to say what something or someone is like by giving details about them ▪ The police asked her to describe the two men. ▪ An alternative… … Dictionary of contemporary English
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describe — de|scribe [ dı skraıb ] verb transitive *** 1. ) to give details about what someone or something is like: The e mail system is fully described in section 10. I don t think that s quite the word to describe my feelings. describe someone/something… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Continue Learning about English Language Arts
What are two nouns that describe a fire?
A noun used to describe another noun is called an attributive noun. Two nouns to describe the noun fire are gunand structure.
What is an abstract noun for describe?
The abstract noun form of the verb to describe is description.
What noun describes fire?
Nouns don’t describe, adjectives describe. The adjectives that
come to mind about fire are ‘hot’ or ‘burning’.
What are some nouns that describe a tiger?
A noun used to describe another noun is called an attributive noun (or noun adjunct). Examples of noun to describe tigers are:mountain tigermascot tigerspirit tigerjungle tigerfather tigergranite tiger
What words describe a mountaineer?
Words that describe a noun are adjectives; the word mountaineer is a noun.Some adjectives to describe the noun mountaineer:strongcarefultrainedfoolhardyadventurousaudaciousfocusedequippedboldintrepid
- Top Definitions
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- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ dih-skrahyb ]
/ dɪˈskraɪb /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object), de·scribed, de·scrib·ing.
to tell or depict in written or spoken words; give an account of: He described the accident very carefully.
to pronounce, as by a designating term, phrase, or the like; label: There are few people who may be described as geniuses.
to indicate; be a sign of; denote: Conceit, in many cases, describes a state of serious emotional insecurity.
to represent or delineate by a picture or figure.
Geometry. to draw or trace the outline of: to describe an arc.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of describe
1400–50; late Middle English describen <Latin dēscrībere, equivalent to dē- de- + scrībere to write
synonym study for describe
1. Describe, narrate agree in the idea of giving an account of something. To describe is to convey in words the appearance, nature, attributes, etc., of something. The word often implies vividness of personal observation: to describe a scene, an event. To narrate is to recount the occurrence of something, usually by giving the details of an event or events in the order of their happening. Narrate thus applies only to that which happens over time: to narrate an incident.
OTHER WORDS FROM describe
de·scrib·a·ble, adjectivede·scrib·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·scrib·a·bly, adverbde·scrib·er, noun
non·de·scrib·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·de·scribe, verb (used with object), o·ver·de·scribed, o·ver·de·scrib·ing.pre·de·scribe, verb (used with object), pre·de·scribed, pre·de·scrib·ing.re·de·scribe, verb (used with object), re·de·scribed, re·de·scrib·ing.self-de·scribed, adjectiveun·de·scrib·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·scrib·a·ble·ness, nounun·de·scrib·a·bly, adverbun·de·scribed, adjectivewell-de·scribed, adjective
Words nearby describe
deschool, Deschutes, descloizite, descramble, descrambler, describe, description, descriptive, descriptive bibliography, descriptive cataloging, descriptive geometry
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to describe
call, characterize, chronicle, construe, define, depict, detail, express, illustrate, interpret, label, name, outline, portray, recount, report, represent, specify, tell, term
How to use describe in a sentence
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What that means, as Doughty described and we verified, is that for the time being — maybe for the first time in our adult lifetimes — we can experience the island without a crowd for company.
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Employees of the various businesses who received a ticket described their interactions with police as positive.
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Over a century ago, Proust inhaled a fresh-baked madeleine that triggered vivid memories of his childhood, describing the experience in “Swann’s Way,” the first of seven volumes that compose “In Search of Lost Time.”
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This feat, described November 19 at a symposium hosted by Columbia University, is another example of the tremendous progress under way in linking brains to computers.
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“We need those people who are in the community to describe the situation in their communities,” Usman said.
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The man, Joshua Kemp, told what police describe as “a bogus story that quickly fell apart.”
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It is not only clerics and Islamic ideologues who use offensive words and images to describe the sexual life of Westerners.
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The latest novel from Samantha Harvey is truly superb, but left its reviewer at a loss for how to describe it.
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But throughout all this, Malone describe herself as “oddly responsible,” wanting to help her moms pay the bills as young as 10.
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I asked him to describe the U.S. mission that will likely revert back to the embassy it was more than a half century ago.
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It was difficult to describe—a little sterner, a little wilder, a faint emphasis of the barbaric peering through it.
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But that she could calmly tell him about it, that she could deliberately describe this effect upon her of another man—!
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Words fail to describe my feelings as I watched the clothes come off him and dry ones go on just as if hands were arranging them.
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To describe the joy, the intense and tumultuous delight of that moment, were beyond the power of words.
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It is impossible to describe the thrilling effect produced by this striking ceremony.
British Dictionary definitions for describe
verb (tr)
to give an account or representation of in words
to pronounce or labelhe has been described as a genius
to draw a line or figure, such as a circle
Derived forms of describe
describable, adjectivedescriber, noun
Word Origin for describe
C15: from Latin dēscrībere to copy off, write out, delineate, from de- + scrībere to write
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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