describe

present (v1)

describe

past (v2)

described

past participle (v3)

described

present participle

describing

3rd person singular

describes

1. 1.To represent in words.

   • The geographer describes countries and cities.
   • The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.
   • Several witnesses describe seeing lights in the sky that night.

2. 2.To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out.

   • His body was contracted and bent towards them, and described an undulatory movement like that of a worm writhing.
   • Uncas described an arc in the water with his own blade, and as the canoe passed swiftly on, Chingachgook recovered his paddle, and flourishing it on high, he gave the war-whoop of the Mohicans.

3. 3.To give rise to a geometrical structure.

   • The function describes a very complex surface.

4. 4.To introduce a new taxon to science by explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other taxa.

   • The fungus was first described by a botanist.

Overall

Common· #609

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• depict
• draw