Word
describe
Phoneticsde·scribe, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪsˈkɹaɪb/
UK/dɪskɹˈaɪb/
Definitions
01to explain in words
A1 · Beginner
v. to say or write what someone or something is like so that others can imagine it.
v. to give a detailed account in words of the appearance, nature, or attributes of something. Transitive; requires a direct object.
日本語:説明する※
“The witness tried to describe the man she saw running away from the shop.”
“The novelist spent three pages describing the rugged coastline, using vivid sensory details to immerse the reader in the setting.”
Usage
Commonly used with 'to' when mentioning the recipient of the description.
Pitfall
Can you describe me the house?
Can you describe the house to me?
The verb 'describe' does not take an indirect object for the person listening. Use 'describe [thing] to [person]'.
02to draw or trace a shape
B2 · Upper Intermediate Mathematics Technical
v. to move in a way that creates a specific shape, like a circle.
v. to mark out or trace the form or outline of a geometric figure or path.
日本語:描く※
“Use a compass to describe a perfect circle on the paper.”
“As the planet orbits the star, its path describes an ellipse rather than a perfect circle.”
Usage
Often used in geometry and physics to explain the movement of objects through space.
03to name a new species
C1 · Advanced Science Academic · Technical
v. to officially name and explain a new plant or animal for the first time in science.
v. to provide the first formal scientific account and naming of a new taxon.
“The researchers hope to describe several new species of insects found in the rainforest.”
“The botanist published a paper to formally describe the rare orchid, distinguishing it from similar species found in the same valley.”
Teaching tip
In academic biology, 'describing' a species is a specific legal and scientific process, not just a casual observation.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “describe” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Judy Illes, a neuroethicist and professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia in Canada, who was not involved in the research, describes the work as “magnificent.” “Researchers described the findings in a preprint study, which has not been peer-reviewed.” Etymology
From Middle English descriven, from Old French descrivre, from Latin dēscrībō (“to copy off, transcribe, sketch off, describe in painting or writing”), from dē (“off”) + scrībō (“write”); see scribe and shrive. Displaced native Old English āmearcian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/describe
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0