describe
describe
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling for "describe"
IPA: /dɪˈskraɪb/
Syllable Breakdown:
di-
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
/ɪ/ - short front unrounded vowel
-scribe
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/r/ - alveolar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong, starting with a short front unrounded vowel /æ/ and moving towards a long front unrounded vowel /aɪ/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Present tense: describe
Past tense: described
Past participle: described
Present participle: describing
Noun:
Singular: description
Plural: descriptions
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun: Description
Definition: A detailed account or portrayal of something.
Synonyms: depiction, portrayal, account, narrative, explanation
Antonyms: abstraction, generality, vagueness
Verb: Describe
Definition: To give a detailed account or portrayal of something.
Synonyms: depict, portray, explain, narrate, characterize
Antonyms: obscure, conceal, hide, misrepresent
Adjective: Descriptive
Definition: Having the quality of describing or giving details.
Synonyms: detailed, informative, illustrative, vivid, graphic
Antonyms: vague, general, abstract, non-specific
Adverb: Descriptively
Definition: In a way that describes or gives details.
Synonyms: minutely, elaborately, vividly, graphically, precisely
Antonyms: vaguely, generally, abstractly, non-specifically
Examples of Use
Books
"He described the scene in vivid detail, painting a picture in the reader's mind." (From "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
"The author describes the protagonist's journey through the forest as a metaphor for the challenges of life." (From "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Newspapers
"The police report describes the suspect as a tall, thin man with brown hair." (From The New York Times)
"The article describes the recent political developments in the country." (From The Guardian)
Online Publications
"The blogger describes their experience traveling to Japan, sharing photos and anecdotes." (From a travel blog)
"The tech review describes the new smartphone's features and performance." (From a tech website)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"The movie director describes the film's plot as a 'love story gone wrong.'" (From an interview with a filmmaker)
"The musician describes their latest album as a 'journey of self-discovery.'" (From a music magazine)
"The video game developer describes the game's gameplay as 'fast-paced and action-packed.'" (From a gaming website)
General Public Discourse
"Can you describe what you saw at the accident scene?" (A question asked by a police officer)
"The teacher asked the students to describe their favorite vacation." (A classroom activity)
"The weather report describes the upcoming storm as 'severe.'" (A newscaster's announcement)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Describe
"To describe happiness is to diminish it." — Stendhal
"Words can never fully describe the essence of experience." — Anonymous
"We describe the world not as it is, but as we are." — Anaïs Nin
"It is easy to describe what is visible, but far harder to put into words the invisible." — Anonymous
"Poetry is the attempt to describe the indescribable." — Anonymous
"I find it difficult to describe what I see because I see with my feelings." — Anonymous
"To describe a person’s soul is to reveal one’s own." — Anonymous
"Describe a rainbow to someone who’s never seen one, and you realize the limits of words." — Anonymous
"Artists describe not what they see, but what they feel." — Anonymous
"The more I describe you, the less I can contain your mystery." — Anonymous
Etymology
Describe is a word that comes from two Latin words:
De: This means "down" or "away."
Scribere: This means "to write."
So, when you put these two words together, you get "describe," which means to "write down" or "give an account of" something.
The first known use of "describe" in English was in the late 14th century. It was used to mean "to write or portray in words."
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Describe
Common Phrases:
To describe something in vivid detail: To give a very clear and detailed account.
To be beyond description: To be so good or bad that it cannot be adequately described.
To describe oneself as: To say what kind of person one is.
Lesser-Known Phrases:
A picture is worth a thousand words, but a good description can make a thousand pictures. (A proverb emphasizing the power of language)
To describe something as a mixed bag: To say that something has both good and bad qualities.
To describe something as a far cry from something else: To say that something is very different from something else.
Idioms with Synonyms:
To paint a picture: To give a vivid description.
To put something into words: To describe something accurately.
To tell a story: To describe a series of events.
Posts Related to Describe
Source Information
Definition of describe from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
