description
Americannoun
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a statement or account that describes; representation in words
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the act, process, or technique of describing
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sort, kind, or variety
reptiles of every description
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geometry the act of drawing a line or figure, such as an arc
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philosophy a noun phrase containing a predicate that may replace a name as the subject of a sentence
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of description
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English descripcioun, from Latin dēscrīptiōn-, stem of dēscrīptiō, from dēscrīpt(us) “described” (past participle of dēscrībere “to copy, draw, transcribe”; see describe) + -iō -ion
Explanation
A description puts something in words, like a portrait puts a person in paint. The lawnmower you came home with did not quite fit the description of the dishwasher you went shopping for. The root for description is the Latin word descriptio, meaning “to write down.” The “script” in description tells you that a good description makes what it describes come to life, like a script for a movie. Your description of that fudge almond swirl ice cream was so good I could taste it! Unfortunately, I'm allergic to nuts.
Vocabulary lists containing description
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
That pattern, also known by the more ominous-sounding “bearish engulfing,” followed the description in technical-analysis textbooks to the letter, to warn of a change in trend.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
The lawyer had cited an unsafe workplace, a description Ackman rejected, vowing to “fight this nonsense to the end of the earth.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Police are asking auto repair shops to contact detectives if anyone recently brought in a sedan matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
She said more cinemas should offer audio description so people who are blind and visually impaired can enjoy the cinema experience like everyone else.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
I thought that with this description I could find the house, so, having paid my friend for his information, I started off for Piccadilly.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
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.
