description
//dɪˈskɹɪpʃən//
Forms
- Plural
- descriptions
Definitions
1.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.The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
3.A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.
- The zoo had no lions, tigers, or cats of any description.
4.A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.
- The type description of the fungus was written by a botanist.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2090
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English descripcioun, from Old French description and its etymon, Latin dēscrīptiō, noun of action of dēscrībō (“to describe”).
Equivalent to describe + -tion.