What does DESCRIPTION mean?

Definitions for DESCRIPTION
dɪˈskrɪp ʃənde·scrip·tion

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word DESCRIPTION.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. description, verbal descriptionnoun

    a statement that represents something in words

  2. descriptionnoun

    the act of describing something

  3. descriptionnoun

    sort or variety

    "every description of book was there"

Wiktionary

  1. descriptionnoun

    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.

  2. descriptionnoun

    The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

  3. descriptionnoun

    A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.

  4. descriptionnoun

    A scientific documentation of a specimen intended to reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.

    The type description of the fungus was written by a botanist.

  5. Etymology: From descriptio.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Descriptionnoun

    Etymology: descriptio, Latin.

    A poet must refuse all tedious and unnecessary descriptions: a robe which is too heavy, is less an ornament than a burthen. John Dryden, Dufresnoy, Preface.

    Sometimes misguided by the tuneful throng,
    I look for streams immortaliz’d in song,
    That lost in silence and oblivion lie,
    Dumb are their fountains, and their channels dry,
    That run for ever by the muse’s skill,
    And in the smooth description murmur still. Addison.

    This sort of definition, which is made up of a mere collection of the most remarkable parts or properties, is called an imperfect definition, or a description; whereas the definition is called perfect when it is composed of the essential difference, added to general nature or genus. Isaac Watts, Logick.

    I’ll pay six thousand, and deface the bond,
    Before a friend of this description
    Shall lose a hair. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

Wikipedia

  1. Description

    Description is the pattern of narrative development that aims to make vivid a place, object, character, or group. Description is one of four rhetorical modes (also known as modes of discourse), along with exposition, argumentation, and narration. In practice it would be difficult to write literature that drew on just one of the four basic modes.

ChatGPT

  1. description

    A description is a detailed account or statement that provides information about the characteristics, qualities, or features of a person, object, place, situation, or concept. It aims to create a vivid picture or clear understanding in someone's mind through the use of sensory details, comparisons, or other explanatory information.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Descriptionnoun

    the act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs

  2. Descriptionnoun

    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

  3. Descriptionnoun

    a class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort

Wikidata

  1. Description

    Description is one of four rhetorical modes, along with exposition, argumentation, and narration. Each of the rhetorical modes is present in a variety of forms and each has its own purpose and conventions. The act of description may be related to that of definition. Description is also the fiction-writing mode for transmitting a mental image of the particulars of a story.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Description

    de-skrip′shun, n. act of describing: an account of anything in words: definition: sort, class, or kind.—adj. Descrip′tive, containing description.—adv. Descrip′tively.—n. Descrip′tiveness.

Editors Contribution

  1. description

    To describe using words.

    The description of the holiday resort was so accurate you could imagine you were there.


    Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'DESCRIPTION' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2035

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'DESCRIPTION' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2807

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'DESCRIPTION' in Nouns Frequency: #708

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for DESCRIPTION »

  1. discerption

  2. predictions

How to pronounce DESCRIPTION?

How to say DESCRIPTION in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of DESCRIPTION in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of DESCRIPTION in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of DESCRIPTION in a Sentence

  1. Rowan University:

    Losing three students in one semester is beyond description, how do you look into the faces of the parents of these kids ?

  2. RAS CARDO REGGAE:

    I know that someday my works will be praised by the critics, revered by the skeptics, respected by the cynics, continue to be researched by the academics, and loved by all those who know truth throughout the world. it will defy description and pose a dire challenge to historical analysis. the truths I deliver stands on its own. I created reggae and told the world about- the technotyrannical society.

  3. Clyde B. Aster:

    When someone tells you something defies description, you can be pretty sure he's going to have a go at it anyway.

  4. Justin Fairfax:

    But I cannot agree with a description of events that I know is not true.

  5. Shawn VanDiver:

    This impacts every Afghan the US brought here under parole status who still has family in Afghanistan eligible for reunification. Afghans who fit that description should complete the form now and Afghans in other categories should visit the family reunification landing page and follow the instructions there, it took longer to get this done than anyone would have liked, but #AfghanEvac is proud to have worked tirelessly with the State Department to bridge the gap in the interim through our grassroots efforts.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

DESCRIPTION#1#379#10000

Translations for DESCRIPTION

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for DESCRIPTION »

Translation

Find a translation for the DESCRIPTION definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"DESCRIPTION." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 18 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/DESCRIPTION>.

Discuss these DESCRIPTION definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for DESCRIPTION? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    a light informal meal
    A viverrine
    B maculation
    C subrogation
    D collation

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for DESCRIPTION: