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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Describe: Meaning, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：give a description (describe)

describe 🔊

/dɪˈskraɪb/

vt.

to tell someone what something looks, sounds, or feels like in words.

Describe word meaning illustrated by a person explaining a travel photo to a friend.

give a description 🔊

➕

/ɡɪv ə dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

vt.

To convey the characteristics of something, such as its appearance, sound, or feel, using spoken or written words.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'describĕre', meaning 'write down', from 'de-' (down) + 'scribĕre' (write).

💡 Mnemonic

DEscribe: DEtail + SCRIBE write → write down details to describe something.

📖 Example

After her trip, she tried to describe the beautiful sunset over the mountains to her friends. 🔊 After her trip, she tried to describe the beautiful sunset over the mountains to her friends.

🔗 Collocations

describe in detail – to provide a thorough and comprehensive account

describe accurately – to give a precise and correct representation

describe vividly – to portray in a lively and expressive manner

🔄 Synonyms

explain (vt.) – to make something clear or understandable by describing it

narrate (vt.) – to tell a story or recount events in order

depict (vt.) – to represent or show something in a picture or words

🚫 Antonyms

conceal (vt.) – to hide or keep something secret, not describing it

🌱 Derivatives

description (n.) – a spoken or written representation of something

descriptive (adj.) – serving to describe or characterize something

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'describĕre', used in ancient Rome for recording details. Evolved in English to encompass both verbal and visual representation, commonly used in academic, artistic, and everyday contexts for precise communication.

Meaning 2：outline or depict (describe)

describe 🔊

/dɪˈskraɪb/

vt.

to draw or trace the outline of something, like in a drawing or diagram; to represent vividly with words.

Describe as outline depicted by a pencil drawing the contour of an animal.

outline or depict 🔊

➕

/ˈaʊtlaɪn ɔːr dɪˈpɪkt/

vt.

To draw or trace the contour of something, or to represent it vividly through words or visual means.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The artist used simple lines to describe the graceful shape of the running deer. 🔊 The artist used simple lines to describe the graceful shape of the running deer.

🔗 Collocations

describe the shape – to outline the form or contour of something

describe with lines – to represent using linear drawings or strokes

describe vividly – to portray in a striking and clear manner

🔄 Synonyms

sketch (vt.) – to make a rough or simple drawing of something

outline (vt.) – to draw or indicate the outer edge or main features

portray (vt.) – to depict or represent something in art or literature

🚫 Antonyms

erase (vt.) – to remove marks or drawings, thus not describing

🌱 Derivatives

description (n.) – a representation in words or images

descriptive (adj.) – relating to or serving to describe