description

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de·scrip·tion

(dĭ-skrĭp′shən)

1. The act, process, or technique of describing.

2. A statement or an account describing something: published a description of the journey; gave a vivid description of the game.

3. A pictorial representation: Monet's ethereal descriptions of haystacks and water lilies.

4. A kind or sort: cars of every size and description.

[Middle English descripcioun, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin dēscrīptiō, dēscrīptiōn-, from dēscrīptus, past participle of dēscrībere, to write down; see describe.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

description

(dɪˈskrɪpʃən)

1. a statement or account that describes; representation in words

2. the act, process, or technique of describing

3. sort, kind, or variety: reptiles of every description.

4. (Mathematics) geometry the act of drawing a line or figure, such as an arc

5. (Grammar) philosophy a noun phrase containing a predicate that may replace a name as the subject of a sentence

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•scrip•tion

(dɪˈskrɪp ʃən)

n.

1. a statement, picture in words, or account that describes; descriptive representation.

2. the act or method of describing.

3. sort; kind; variety: dogs of every description.

[1300–50; Middle English descripcioun < Latin dēscrīptiō; see describe, -tion]

description

A description of someone or something is an account of what they are like.

They now had a description of Calthrop and a photograph of his head and shoulders.

...his description of army life in Northern Ireland.

...a detailed description of the house.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	description - a statement that represents something in words verbal description statement - a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc; "according to his statement he was in London on that day" job description - description of the responsibilities associated with a given job spec, specification - a detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work characterisation, characterization, delineation, depiction, word picture, word-painting, picture - a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture of life in Poland"; "the pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters"
	2.	description - the act of describing something speech act - the use of language to perform some act characterisation, characterization - the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features; "the media's characterization of Al Gore as a nerd" label - a brief description given for purposes of identification; "the label Modern is applied to many different kinds of architecture" detailing, particularisation, particularization - an individualized description of a particular instance vignette, sketch - a brief literary description
	3.	description - sort or variety; "every description of book was there" kind, sort, form, variety - a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?"

description

noun

1. account, report, explanation, representation, sketch, narrative, portrayal, depiction, narration, characterization, delineation He gave a description of the surgery he was about to perform.

2. calling, naming, branding, labelling, dubbing, designation his description of the country as a 'police state'

3. kind, sort, type, order, class, variety, brand, species, breed, category, kidney, genre, genus, ilk Events of this description occurred daily.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

description

noun

1. A recounting of past events:

account, chronicle, history, narration, narrative, report, statement, story, version.

2. The act or process of describing in lifelike imagery:

delineation, depiction, expression, portrayal, representation.

3. A class that is defined by the common attribute or attributes possessed by all its members:

breed, cast, feather, ilk, kind, lot, manner, mold, nature, order, sort, species, stamp, stripe, type, variety.

Informal: persuasion.

Translations

وَصْف نَوْع

popisvylíčenídruh

beskrivelseberetning

Beschreibung Bezeichnung Deskription Vorstellungsvermögen Art

περιγραφή

descripción tipo clase

kuvaus

description discussion signalement

opis

féle

lÿsandi frásögnlÿsingtegund

descrizione

記述

묘사

beschrijving

beskrivelse framstilling sort

opis

descrição

описание характеристика

popis

opis

beskrivning

คำอธิบาย

betimleme cins tanımtanımlamatasvir

sự mô tả

描述种类叙述

description

[dɪsˈkrɪpʃən] N

1. [of person, scene, object] → descripción f
do you know anyone of this description? → ¿sabe de alguien que responda a esta descripción?
beyond description → indescriptible
see also answer B2

2. (= sort) he carried a gun of some description → llevaba un arma de algún tipo
of every description → de toda clase

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

description

[dɪˈskrɪpʃ^ən] n

(= account) → description f

[wanted person] → signalement m

(= sort) → sorte f
of every description → de toutes sortes
of some description → quelconque
of any description
Knives of any description are forbidden → Les couteaux, quels qu'ils soient, sont interdits.

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

description

→ Beschreibung f; (of event, situation) → Schilderung f, → Beschreibung f; she gave a detailed description of what had happened → sie beschrieb ausführlich, was vorgefallen war; this is beyond description → das ist ja unbeschreiblich; to answer (to) or fit the description of … → der Beschreibung als … entsprechen; they answer or fit the description of the suspects → auf sie trifft die Beschreibung der Verdächtigen zu; do you know anyone of this description? → kennen Sie jemanden, der dieser Beschreibung entspricht or auf den diese Beschreibung zutrifft?

(= sort) → Art f; vehicles of every description or of all descriptions → Fahrzeuge aller Art

(Math) → Beschreibung f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

description

[dɪsˈkrɪpʃ/ən] n

a. (of person, scene, object) → descrizione f; (of event) → racconto; (of suspect) → connotati mpl, descrizione
beyond description → oltre ogni dire

b. (sort) → genere m, specie f
he carried a gun of some description → aveva una pistola di qualche tipo
of every description → di ogni genere e specie

describe

(diˈskraib) verb

1. to give an account of in words; to tell in words what something or someone is like. He described what had happened; Would you describe her as beautiful?

2. to say that one is something. He describes himself as a salesman.

deˈscription (-ˈskrip-) noun

1. (an) act of describing. I recognized him from your description.

2. an account of anything in words. He gave a description of his holiday.

3. a sort or kind. He carried a gun of some description.

to describe (not describe about) a scene.

description

→ وَصْف popis beskrivelse Beschreibung περιγραφή descripción kuvaus description opis descrizione 記述 묘사 beschrijving beskrivelse opis descrição описание beskrivning คำอธิบาย betimleme sự mô tả 描述

References in classic literature ?

This was Fix, one of the detectives who had been dispatched from England in search of the bank robber; it was his task to narrowly watch every passenger who arrived at Suez, and to follow up all who seemed to be suspicious characters, or bore a resemblance to the description of the criminal, which he had received two days before from the police headquarters at London.

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The kindness which he showed in devoting himself to my assistance exceeds all description. He treated me, in my forlorn situation, with a delicacy and respect which I shall remember gratefully long after he has himself perhaps forgotten our meeting altogether.

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Usually secondary in appearance but of vital artistic importance, is the author's power of description, of picturing both the appearance of his characters and the scenes which make his background and help to give the tone of his work.

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Take, for instance, the description of the Iron Age

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"Isn't it strange," she suggested, "that the murderer should have escaped, with such a careful description of him as this circulated all over England?"

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The world says that no worded description of a moving spectacle is a hundredth part as moving as the same spectacle seen with one's own eyes--yet the world is willing to let its son and its daughter and itself look at Titian's beast, but won't stand a description of it in words.

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Inchbare's description (vague as you will presently find it to be) completely exonerates that man," said Sir Patrick, pointing to Geoffrey still asleep in his chair.

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Such then is the description of a citizen who comes nearest to what all those who are called citizens are.

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KINDNESS OF MARHEYO AND THE REST OF THE ISLANDERS--A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE BREAD- FRUIT TREE--DIFFERENT MODES OF PREPARING THE FRUIT

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Beauty first and last is what holds us in Spenser's poems- -beauty of description, beauty of thought, beauty of sound.

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To prove to you that we already know all about it, I inclose herewith a list and description of all the ships you have."

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Further, if it be objected that the description is not true to fact, the poet may perhaps reply,--'But the objects are as they ought to be': just as Sophocles said that he drew men as they ought to be; Euripides, as they are.