Link Centre Dictionary

describe

desc·ribe

UK/dɪˈskɹaɪb/ US/dəˈskɹaɪb/ common

verb

1.

give a description of

  • “He drew an elaborate plan of attack”
Synonyms
2.

to give an account or representation of in words

  • “Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental”
4.

make a mark or lines on a surface

  • “draw a line”
  • “trace the outline of a figure in the sand”

Origin

From Middle English descriven, from Old French descrivre, from Latin dēscrībō (“to copy off, transcribe, sketch off, describe in painting or writing”), from dē (“off”) + scrībō (“write”); see scribe and shrive. Displaced native Old English āmearcian.

Related words

Broader terms

Related verbs

Entails

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.