description

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/, /dəˈskɹɪpʃən/ === Noun === description (countable and uncountable, plural descriptions) 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. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs. A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized. (taxonomy) A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science. (linguistics) The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage. (linguistics) A descriptive linguistic survey. ==== Synonyms ==== (characteristics): sort, kind, type, variety ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== describe descriptive ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== prescription descriptivism ==== Further reading ==== “description”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “description”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === See also === synopsis interpretation === Anagrams === discerption, predictions == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin dēscriptiōnem. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /dɛs.kʁip.sjɔ̃/ Homophone: descriptions === Noun === description f (plural descriptions) description ==== Related terms ==== décrire descriptif === Further reading === “description”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Old French == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin dēscriptiō. === Noun === description oblique singular, f (oblique plural descriptions, nominative singular description, nominative plural descriptions) description ==== Related terms ==== descrivre