DESCRIPTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does description mean? 

• DESCRIPTION (noun)
  The noun DESCRIPTION has 3 senses:

1. a statement that represents something in words

2. the act of describing something

3. sort or variety

  Familiarity information: DESCRIPTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DESCRIPTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A statement that represents something in words

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

description; verbal description

Hypernyms ("description" is a kind of...):

statement (a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "description"):

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; picture; word-painting; word picture (a graphic or vivid verbal description)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of describing something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("description" is a kind of...):

speech act (the use of language to perform some act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "description"):

characterisation; characterization (the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features)

label (a brief description given for purposes of identification)

detailing; particularisation; particularization (an individualized description of a particular instance)

sketch; vignette (a brief literary description)

Derivation:

describe (to give an account or representation of in words)

describe (give a description of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sort or variety

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

every description of book was there

Hypernyms ("description" is a kind of...):

form; kind; sort; variety (a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality)

 Context examples 

A description of an attribute set.

(Attribute Set Descriptor, NCI Thesaurus)

Having said which, he drew back, to observe the effect which this description of her made upon me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

An indication or description of an adverse event occurrence.

(Adverse Event Occurrence, NCI Thesaurus)

Their biology, how they capture prey and defend their nests, is still in need of description.

(Dracula Ant Found to Be Fastest Creature on Earth, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

An indication or description that an adverse event is continuing.

(Adverse Event Ongoing, NCI Thesaurus)

The first two, I need hardly remark, are the same who masqueraded as the Russian count and his son, so we can give a very full description of them.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This is a description of the pathway followed by all subjects in a particular treatment regimen.

(Arm Description, NCI Thesaurus)

He would write—everything—poetry and prose, fiction and description, and plays like Shakespeare.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

NOTE(S): This description should point out what is different between the Arms, if there is more than one Arm.

(Arm Description, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

Terminology used in Individual Case Safety Reports for description of adverse event outcomes, section B2 of FDA MedWatch Form.

(Adverse Event Outcome ICSR Terminology, NCI Thesaurus)