description
noun/dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/ · /dəˈskɹɪpʃən/
Etymology From Middle English descripcioun, from Old French description and its etymon, Latin dēscrīptiō, noun of action of dēscrībō (“to describe”). Equivalent to describe + -tion.
A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
- give a verbal description of the events
- a realistic description
The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.
- The zoo had no lions, tigers, or cats of any description.
Biology, Natural sciences, Taxonomy A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.
- The type description of the fungus was written by a botanist.
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A descriptive linguistic survey.
- Derived terms
28 terms
audiodescription, audio description, beggar description, charge description master, definite description, definitive description, descriptional, descriptionally, descriptionism, descriptionist, descriptionistic, description language, descriptionless, description logic, description word, hardware description language, ideographic description sequence, job description, metadescription, misdescription, nondescription, nondescriptional, of any description, of some description, overdescription, redescription, videodescription, video description- Related terms
- describe, descriptive, prescription, descriptivism, synopsis, interpretation