descri

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Described p. pr. & vb. n. Describing. ] [ L. describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. décrire. See Scribe, and cf. Descry. ] 1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.

Syn. -- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. describens, p. pr. of describere. ] (Geom.) Same as Generatrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who describes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. description, L. descriptio. See Describe. ] 1. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Milton has descriptions of morning. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort. [ 1913 Webster ]

A difference . . . between them and another description of public creditors. A. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The plates were all of the meanest description. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative; narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. See Definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif. ] Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures. --
Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )

-- De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. -- De*scrip"tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]