describe
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
verb
-
to give an account or representation of in words
-
to pronounce or label
he has been described as a genius
-
to draw a line or figure, such as a circle
Related Words
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 Word Forms
- describability noun
- describable adjective
- describably adverb
- describer noun
- nondescribable adjective
- overdescribe verb (used with object)
- predescribe verb (used with object)
- redescribe verb (used with object)
- self-described adjective
- undescribable adjective
- undescribableness noun
- undescribably adverb
- undescribed adjective
- well-described adjective
Etymology
Origin of describe
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English describen, from Latin dēscrībere, equivalent to dē- de- + scrībere “to write”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a study published in Nature, they describe a flexible material that can rapidly shift its surface patterns and colors, forming features smaller than a human hair.
From Science Daily
Their findings, published in Nature Communications, describe how they guided these minute vibrations to act in a coordinated, laser-like way.
From Science Daily
Researchers still lack detailed databases describing the mechanical properties of DNA structures, and simulation tools for predicting behavior at this scale are not yet fully developed.
From Science Daily
A significant chunk of recent growth has been driven by healthcare spending from an aging population, a trend he described as a double-edged sword.
From Barron's
A significant chunk of recent growth has been driven by healthcare spending from an aging population, a trend he described as a double-edged sword.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
