describe
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English descriven, from Old French descrivre, from Latin dēscrībō (“I copy off, transcribe, sketch off, describe in painting or writing”), from dē (“off”) + scrībō (“write”); see scribe and shrive.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Verb
describe (third-person singular simple present describes, present participle describing, simple past and past participle described)
- (transitive) To represent in words.
- The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.
- (transitive) (mathematics) To give rise to a geometrical structure.
- The function describes a very complex surface.
- 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. (James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans)
- (transitive) (biology) To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.
- The fungus was first described by a botanist.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
to represent in words
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to give rise to a geometrical structure
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[edit] External links
- describe in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- describe in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Latin
[edit] Verb
dēscrībe
- second-person singular present active imperative of dēscrībō
[edit] Spanish
[edit] Verb
describe (infinitive describir)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English verbs
- en:Mathematics
- en:Biology
- Latin verb forms
- Spanish verb forms
- Spanish forms of verbs ending in -ir
- Spanish verb indicative forms
- Spanish verb singular forms
- Spanish verb third-person forms
- Spanish verb present forms
- Spanish verb imperative forms
- Spanish verb second-person forms
- Spanish verb affirmative forms
- Spanish verb informal forms
