describe

views updated May 21 2018

de·scribe / diˈskrīb/ • v. [tr.] 1. give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events: the police said the man was described as white, 6 ft. tall, with mousy, cropped hair. ∎  indicate; denote: “Jim Crow” describes a policy of segregation.2. mark out or draw (a geometric figure): on the diameter of a circle an equilateral triangle is described.DERIVATIVES: de·scrib·a·ble adj.de·scrib·er n.

describe

views updated May 17 2018

describe XV. — L. dēscrībere write down, copy off, f. DE- 1 + scrībere write.
So description XIV. — (O)F. — L.