Lexic.us

Definition of Describe

1. Verb. Give a description of. "He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2. Verb. To give an account or representation of in words. "They describe that there was a traffic accident "; "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3. Verb. Make a mark or lines on a surface. "Trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4. Verb. Identify as in botany or biology, for example.

Definition of Describe

1. v. t. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.

2. v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.

Definition of Describe

1. Verb. (transitive) To represent in words. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) (mathematics) To give rise to a geometrical structure. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) (biology) To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Describe

1. to give a verbal account of [v -SCRIBED, -SCRIBING, -SCRIBES]

Medical Definition of Describe

1. 1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle. 2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities. 3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. "Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book." (Josh. Xviii. 9) Synonym: To set forth, represent, delineate, relate, recount, narrate, express, explain, depict, portray, chracterize. Origin: L. Describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to write: cf. OE. Descriven, OF. Descrivre, F. Decrire. See Scribe, and cf. Descry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Describe

descopes descoping descramble descrambler descramblers descreen descreened descreening descreens descrescendo

descrescendos descriable describability describable describableness describe (current term) described described video describent describents

describer describers describes describing descried descrier descriers descries description description logic

Literary usage of Describe

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1860)
"How will you describe right fear ? CHR. True or right fear is discovered by three things: 1. By its rise : it is caused by saving convictions for sin. 2. ..."

2. Ivanhoe: A Romance by Walter Scott (1895)
"She gazed, accordingly, upon the scene, which we shall endeavor to describe in the next chapter. CHAPTER XXXVII. Stern was the law which bade its vot'ries ..."

3. The Lancet (1898)
"describe the varieties of the disease met with and In the event of an operation being ... describe the arrangement of the bone« In the forelimb of a horse. ..."

4. Journal of Researches Into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries by Charles Darwin (1846)
"... of the same ludicrous habit among the Caf- fres : the Australians, likewise, have long been notorious for being able to imitate and describe the gait of ..."

5. The Vicar of Wakefield: Der Landprediger Von Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith (1857)
"Description would but beggar, therefore it is unnecessary to describe, this new mortification. — Death! to be seen by ladies of such high breeding in such ..."

Other Resources: