Home / Dictionary / Describe

Describe Very Common

Describe has 5 different meanings across 1 category:

Verb

Definitions
Verb
1

give a description of

"He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2

to give an account or representation of in words

"Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3

make a mark or lines on a surface

"draw a line"

"trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4

identify as in botany or biology, for example

"The field guide helps you describe plants by their leaf shape and flower color to correctly identify unknown species."

5

To represent in words.

"She described her new apartment as having a cozy living room and a sunny kitchen."

In plain English: To describe something means to tell people what it looks, sounds, or feels like using words.

"She described her vacation in vivid detail to her friends."

Usage: Use describe to state the characteristics or nature of something clearly using specific details. Avoid it when you simply need to mention an event without explaining what happened.

Example Sentences
"She described her vacation in vivid detail to her friends." verb
Related Terms
explain scribe tell description about scrive nondescription circumstantiate holotype exposition describer nocturnal arc underdescribed encompass taxa surbasement systematic name set forth indescribable metalanguage
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
set forth inform mark
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
represent delineate sketch construct inscribe circumscribe write

Origin

The word "describe" entered Middle English from the Old French descrivre, which came from the Latin verb meaning to copy or sketch off by writing. This term eventually replaced the native Old English word for pointing out, bringing with it a sense of detailing something through written or visual representation.

Rhyming Words
bibe xibe vibe gibe jibe kibe sibe weibe ruibe uribe bribe tribe ribibe horibe scribe imbibe enbibe caribe rebribe ascribe
Compare
Describe vs