describe

The word “describe” means to put something into words, giving an account of what it is like. In plain terms, to explain what something is or looks like using words.

“Describe” is pronounced dih-SKRYB ([dɪˈskɹaɪ̯b] in IPA).

Here is “describe” used in a sentence: “Can you describe the man you saw at the door?”

Words with a similar meaning to “describe” include betell, depict, report, delineate, draw and chronicle.

The opposite of “describe” — its antonyms — are burlesque, caricature, distort, exaggerate and misrepresent.

“Describe” is a verb.

The word “describe” comes from Latin. From Latin describere, "to copy down or sketch out" — from de- ("down, off") + scribere ("to write"), the same root that gives us "scribe.".

“Describe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

To describe something is to say what it is like — its appearance, qualities, or features. To explain is to make it understood by giving reasons, causes, or how it works. You describe a sunset by its colours, but you explain a sunset by the science of scattered light. Description tells what; explanation tells why or how.

You can describe something by its appearance, size, colour, sound, texture, or smell, and by comparing it to things people already know. Vivid adjectives, similes, and specific details help. Describing a place, for instance, might cover what you see, hear, and feel there, painting a clear picture in words.

Saying 'the house was a small, white cottage with a red door and roses climbing the walls' describes it by giving a clear account of what it looks like. Rather than explaining why the house is there, the sentence simply puts its appearance into words so a reader can picture it.