description

[dih-skrip-shuhn]

noun

1. a statement, picture in words, or account that describes; descriptive representation.

2. the act or method of describing.

3. sort; kind; variety.

   dogs of every description.

   Synonyms: ilk, condition, character, nature, species

4. Geometry.,  the act or process of describing a figure.

description

/ dɪˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. a statement or account that describes; representation in words

2. the act, process, or technique of describing

3. sort, kind, or variety

   reptiles of every description

4. geometry the act of drawing a line or figure, such as an arc

5. philosophy a noun phrase containing a predicate that may replace a name as the subject of a sentence

Other Word Forms

• predescription noun
• redescription noun
• self-description noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of description¹

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”; describe ) + -iō -ion

Idioms and Phrases

see beggar description.

Example Sentences

His dimensional approach aligns with how clinicians actually evaluate patients, globally, providing richer individual descriptions while enabling formation of more homogeneous research cohorts.

Read more on Science Daily

Sir Keir said the UK stood ready to deploy its diplomacy and expertise to support the reconstruction of Gaza - the devastation of which he says "defies description".

Read more on BBC

Does the notion that everything I buy could — and should — be the “best” version send me down deep research vortexes, hours spent parsing product descriptions and comparing reviews, where superiority is measured mainly by price?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The result is what the listing description hailed as a “truly exceptional home” that features 11 rooms in total across two floors and offers “breathtaking views” of Central Park and the New York City skyline.

Read more on MarketWatch

Speaking on BBC NI's coverage of the game in Germany, former Northern Ireland defender Stephen Craigan felt the description "was a bit disrespectful" to his old side.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• characterization 
• confession 
• definition 
• depiction 
• detail 
• explanation 
• information 
• narration 
• narrative 
• picture 
• portrayal 
• report 
• sketch 
• statement 
• story 
• summary 
• tale 
• version