description
description
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "description" is /dɪˈskrɪpʃn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
de: /dɪ/ - A short "i" sound as in "bit", preceded by a "d" sound.
scrip: /ˈskrɪp/ - A stressed syllable starting with an "s" sound, followed by a "k" sound, then the same short "i" as before, and ending with a "p" sound.
tion: /ʃn/ - A "sh" sound followed by a nasal "n" sound.
Word Form Variations
The word "description" primarily functions as a noun. Here are its variations:
description (singular noun): This is the base form, referring to a representation or account of something.
descriptions (plural noun): This refers to multiple accounts or representations.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
"Description" primarily functions as a noun. It doesn't commonly function as a verb, adjective, or adverb in standard English usage.
Noun:
Definition 1: A representation or account of something, often in detail, giving a mental picture or impression.
Synonyms: portrayal, depiction, account, narrative, report, characterization, sketch, version, interpretation
Antonyms: (Difficult to find direct antonyms, as "description" implies conveying information. Closest concepts might be) omission, silence, vagueness, ambiguity, misrepresentation, distortion
Definition 2: The act or process of representing something in words or some other medium.
Synonyms: depiction, portrayal, illustration, narration, explanation, exposition
Antonyms: (Again, difficult to find direct antonyms. Concepts related to withholding or obscuring information could be considered) concealment, suppression, obfuscation, misdirection
Definition 3 (less common, but valid): A type, sort, or variety. (e.g., "Goods of this description are hard to find.")
Synonyms: kind, sort, type, variety, category, class, genre
Antonyms: (In this specific sense, antonyms would relate to a lack of categorization or distinctiveness) indistinctness, uniformity, homogeneity, undifferentiated
Examples of Use
Books:
"The room was large, with a high ceiling and windows that looked out over the garden. Her description of it was vivid and made me feel like I had been there." (Fictional example, but illustrates common usage in narrative.)
"For a detailed description of the geological formations in the area, see Chapter 3." (Academic or non-fiction context, common in scientific and technical writing.)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Police released a description of the suspect, including details of their clothing and approximate height." (News report, factual and informative context.) (Example structure; specific news story would need to be sourced.)
"The restaurant's website provides a mouthwatering description of their new menu items." (Review or feature article, often persuasive or evocative.) (Example structure; specific restaurant review would need to be sourced.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The film's opening scene offered a stunning visual description of the desolate landscape." (Film review or analysis, focusing on visual storytelling.) (Example structure; specific film review would need to be sourced.)
"The game's description on the app store highlights its innovative gameplay and immersive storyline." (Marketing or promotional context, aimed at attracting users.) (Example structure; specific game description would need to be sourced.)
"On her YouTube channel, the artist provides a detailed description of her creative process." (Online content creation, often educational or demonstrative.) (Example structure; specific YouTube video would need to be sourced.)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you give me a description of what happened?" (Conversation, requesting information or clarification.)
"That's a good description of the current economic climate." (Discussion or debate, expressing an opinion or analysis.)
"The job posting included a comprehensive description of the responsibilities and required qualifications." (Professional context, formal communication.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Description
"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion; beauty without description is but half seen." — Francis Bacon
"Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s." — Stephen King, On Writing
"Art is the most beautiful of all lies; it is truth seen through the description of imagination." — Gustave Flaubert
"The description of a thing is not the thing described." — Alfred Korzybski
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting; the rest is mere description of battles." — Sun Tzu
"The best description of a poem is another poem." — Dylan Thomas
"No description of heaven can ever do justice to the soul that yearns for it." — C.S. Lewis
"A painter’s description of the world is in color; a writer’s description is in words. Both seek the same truth." — Leo Tolstoy
"There is a reality independent of our descriptions of it, yet we cannot touch it except through those descriptions." — Richard Rorty
"The map is not the territory, the description is not the described." — Gregory Bateson (expanding Korzybski’s principle)
Etymology
The word "description" comes to us from Latin, specifically the word descriptio. Think of descriptio as a combination of two parts:
de- meaning "down" or "away"
scribere meaning "to write"
So, literally, descriptio implies "writing down" or "writing about." This makes sense when you think about what a description is – it's essentially a written (or spoken) account of something.
The first known use of "description" in English dates back to the late 14th century. Around that time, it carried the same basic meaning it does today: a representation or account of something, often in detail. So, even from its earliest days in English, "description" has been about conveying information about something through language.
Over time, the word's meaning has remained largely consistent. While nuances and specific applications might have evolved, the core idea of a "written account" or "representation" has stayed the same. It's a testament to how well the original Latin root captured the essence of the word.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Description
"Description" isn't a word that lends itself to a lot of common idioms or set phrases in the same way that, say, "time" or "run" does. It's a more formal and literal term. It's also a noun, and nouns generally don't appear in as many idioms as verbs.
Why "description" isn't as common in idioms:
Idioms tend to be more figurative and often rely on verbs or concrete nouns. "Description," while a crucial concept, is more abstract. It refers to the act or result of conveying information, rather than a concrete object or action.
Phrases and Related Expressions:
Detailed description: This is a common and straightforward phrase, emphasizing the thoroughness of the account.
Vivid description: Highlights the clarity and power of the description, making it easy to visualize.
Accurate description: Emphasizes the truthfulness and correctness of the account.
Brief description: Indicates a short and concise summary.
Beyond description: This phrase, while not using "description" directly as a noun, expresses that something is so wonderful or terrible that it cannot be adequately described.
Words fail me/us: This idiom expresses the inability to adequately describe something due to its intensity or complexity. It's similar in effect to "beyond description."
Paint a picture (with words): This idiom, though not using "description," refers to the act of creating a vivid image in the reader's mind through language, which is a key function of description.
In a nutshell: This idiom means "in summary" or "briefly," and can be used when giving a short description of something.
Give/provide a description: This is a common verb phrase used when asking someone to describe something.
Fit the description: This phrase is used when something matches a previously given description.
Original/Less Common Phrases:
"A tapestry of descriptions": Evokes a rich and layered account, drawing on many details.
"The description hung in the air, a palpable presence": Suggests that the description was so powerful it almost became tangible.
"His description was a window into another world": Implies that the description transported the listener or reader to a different place or time.
While "description" itself isn't a frequent player in idioms, the act of describing and the related concepts are often conveyed through other figurative language and expressions.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of description from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
