descriptive
having the quality of describing; characterized by description: a descriptive passage in an essay.
Grammar.
(of an adjective or other modifier) expressing a quality of the word it modifies, as fresh in fresh milk.: Compare limiting (def. 2).
(of a clause) nonrestrictive.: Compare restrictive (def. 4).
noting, concerned with, or based upon the fact or experience.
characterized by or based upon the classification and description of material in a given field: descriptive botany.
Origin of descriptive
1Other words from descriptive
- de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
- de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
- non·de·scrip·tive, adjective
- non·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
- non·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
- o·ver·de·scrip·tive, adjective
- o·ver·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
- o·ver·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
- self-de·scrip·tive, adjective
- un·de·scrip·tive, adjective
- un·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
- un·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use descriptive in a sentence
Use a descriptive anchor text with keywords that are relevant to the linked-to page.
Seven most popular types of blog posts guaranteed to boost traffic | Karl Tablante | November 30, 2020 | Search Engine WatchI use the word “intense,” because the word “difficult” is pejorative and not very descriptive.
Why one child can be more ‘difficult’ than another | Meghan Leahy | November 11, 2020 | Washington PostThe most common approach for curating such a data set is to compile a collection of images with descriptive captions.
This could lead to the next big breakthrough in common sense AI | Karen Hao | November 6, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewIn the Pixel 4a, Google has already turned off face retouching by default, it says, and notes the interface will soon be updated to include what Google describes as “value-free” descriptive icons and labels for the app’s face retouching effects.
Google takes aim at ‘beauty filters’ with design changes coming to Pixel phones | Sarah Perez | October 1, 2020 | TechCrunchAdditionally, if you want images to show up in Google, then writing descriptive alt text is a must-have.
How to make your website ADA-compliant and win at SEO | Abhishek Shah | September 21, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
In other words, descriptively, Khalidi thinks Foxman is right.
He'll immediately (extending her arms descriptively) throw down his bunch of flowers and dive despairingly into the moat.
Belinda | A. A. MilneIt is easy, however, to let this list of characters go too far descriptively.
Dramatic Technique | George Pierce BakerAt the crossroads in the valley stood the local jail, or "coop," as it was more descriptively called.
Overland Red | Henry Herbert KnibbsAs an instance we may quote the “Faust” overture of Wagner, in which the pitch is used emotionally as well as descriptively.
Critical & Historical Essays | Edward MacDowellThe word is also used descriptively for the internal divisions or sections of a comprehensive work.
British Dictionary definitions for descriptive
/ (dɪˈskrɪptɪv) /
characterized by or containing description; serving to describe
grammar (of an adjective) serving to describe the referent of the noun modified, as for example the adjective brown as contrasted with my and former
relating to or based upon description or classification rather than explanation or prescription: descriptive linguistics
Derived forms of descriptive
- descriptively, adverb
- descriptiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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