descriptor

American  

[dih-skrip-ter] / dɪˈskrɪp tər /

noun

1. a significant word or phrase used to categorize or describe text or other material, especially when indexing or in an information retrieval system.

2. Computers. a data item that stores the attributes of some other datum.

   a task descriptor.

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Etymology

Origin of descriptor

First recorded in 1930–35, for an earlier sense; describe + -tor, with vowel change and devoicing by analogy with similar Latin derivatives

Example Sentences

He also noted that with many of the candidates relatively unknown, including the descriptors could have a major effect.

From Los Angeles Times

Tap in a few text descriptors—male blues vocal, 80s synth pop with dark romance, death metal with accordion—and out comes an AI produced song within a matter of minutes.

From The Wall Street Journal

That “consume” has become the go-to descriptor for how we interact with films points to a larger denigration of the medium itself.

From Salon

But here’s the quiet problem: many of these descriptors cancel each other out.

From Salon

She said the agency uses accurate descriptors of weather conditions to communicate clearly.

From The Wall Street Journal