describe

[ dih-skrahyb ]

verb (used with object)

, de·scribed, de·scrib·ing.

1. to tell or depict in written or spoken words; give an account of:

   He described the accident very carefully.

   Synonyms: relate, tell, recount, represent, characterize, portray

2. to pronounce, as by a designating term, phrase, or the like; label:

   There are few people who may be described as geniuses.

3. to indicate; be a sign of; denote:

   Conceit, in many cases, describes a state of serious emotional insecurity.

4. to represent or delineate by a picture or figure.
5. Geometry. to draw or trace the outline of:

   to describe an arc.

describe

/ dɪˈskraɪb /

verb

1. to give an account or representation of in words
2. to pronounce or label

   he has been described as a genius

3. to draw a line or figure, such as a circle

Derived Forms

• deˈscriber, noun
• deˈscribable, adjective

Other Words From

• de·scriba·ble adjective
• de·scriba·bili·ty noun
• de·scriba·bly adverb
• de·scriber noun
• nonde·scriba·ble adjective
• over·de·scribe verb (used with object) overdescribed overdescribing
• prede·scribe verb (used with object) predescribed predescribing
• rede·scribe verb (used with object) redescribed redescribing
• self-de·scribed adjective
• unde·scriba·ble adjective
• unde·scriba·ble·ness noun
• unde·scriba·bly adverb
• unde·scribed adjective
• well-de·scribed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of describe¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English describen, from Latin dēscrībere, equivalent to dē- de- + scrībere “to write”

Word History and Origins

Origin of describe¹

C15: from Latin dēscrībere to copy off, write out, delineate, from de- + scrībere to write

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Prosecutors described it as one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.

From Salon

He described that his drinking was a "15-year pattern" and it led to experimenting with other substances.

From Salon

He once described himself as a “politics junkie” and even in retirement he kept a close eye on Stormont, Westminster and the Dáil.

From BBC

In an interview from 2011 with the Independent, Reeves is described as working for HBOS' retail division, after her job as an economist at the Bank of England.

From BBC

And while newer studies had started to describe conscious top-down mechanisms, no specific brain circuits were discovered until the Salk team took a crack at the case.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• call
• characterize
• chronicle
• construe
• define
• depict
• detail
• express
• illustrate
• interpret
• label
• name
• outline
• portray
• recount
• report
• represent
• specify
• tell
• term