Meaning of describe In English

• 0 to say or write what someone or something is like:

  • Could you describe your attacker?

  • He described the painting in detail.

  • [ + question word ] Let me describe (to you) how it happened.

  • She described Gary as shy.

  • He used compasses to describe a circle.

  • So far, scientists have described 15,482 marine fish species, up from 15,304 a year ago.

  • The scientific name for mountain laurel is Kalmia latifolia, from Peter Kalm, an 18th-century botanist who first described the species.

• 1 to give a written or spoken report of how something is done or of what someone or something is like:

  • The scientists described their findings and research methods.

  • They want us to prepare a report describing the area.

  • [ + question word ] Just describe what happened.

  • The Democrats describe their rivals as the party of the rich.