Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

description

/dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.73 in modern English

Syllables
de-scrip-tion
IPA
/dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/
16
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A descriptive linguistic survey.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English descripcioun, from Old French description and its etymon, Latin dēscrīptiō, noun of action of dēscrībō (“to describe”). Equivalent to describe + -tion.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

descriptions (plural)

Derived Forms

audiodescription descriptional descriptionally descriptionism descriptionist descriptionistic descriptionless metadescription misdescription nondescription nondescriptional overdescription

Phrases

audio description beggar description charge description master definite description definitive description description language description logic description word

Frequently Paired Words

describe descriptive prescription descriptivism synopsis interpretation

Synonyms

portrait sort kind type variety verbal description

Rhymes With

egyptian subscription prescription encryption inscription transcription conscription proscription nonprescription conniption

Questions

How do you pronounce description?
The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/.
What does description mean?
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.
Where does description come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce description

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “description”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈskɹɪpʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “description”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “description” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.