description
/dɪˈskrɪpʃ(ə)n
/noun
1A spoken or written account of a person, object, or event: people who had seen him were able to give a description...
- With five bedrooms, gymnasium and a Jacuzzi, it is certainly does not fit the description of the average croft.
- Thereafter the description of events is dependent upon her account only.
- Cassini wrote a detailed description of precisely how the longitude measurements were to be carried out.
Synonyms
account, explanation, elucidation, illustration, representation, interpretation;
chronicle, report, narration, narrative, story, recounting, rendition, relation, commentary, version, portrayal, portrait, word picture, evocation;
details
1.1 [mass noun] The action of giving a spoken or written account: the emphasis was placed on explanation rather than description...
- Research into health inequality now aims to move away from description and towards explanation.
- Above all, the emphasis was placed firmly on explanation rather than description.
- She is a master of exposition and description, with a ready ear for a telling anecdote.
2A type or class of people or things: it is laughably easy to buy drugs of all descriptions...
- Every available area is taken up by paintings of all descriptions and all styles.
- Yet there are parents who seek out professional tutors of all descriptions for children who are barely old enough to hold a book.
- The Web can help you walk, talk and make ponchos of all descriptions.
Synonyms
sort, variety, kind, style, type, category, order, breed, species, class, designation, specification, genre, genus, brand, make, character, ilk, kidney, grain, stamp, mould;
North American stripe
Phrases
beyond description
defy description
Origin
Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin descriptio(n-), from describere 'write down'.