describe
She described the scenery in vivid detail.
She gave a detailed and colorful account of the scenery.
to give a detailed account of something in words
The witness described the suspect to the police.
The witness gave a detailed verbal account of the suspect's appearance and actions.
The book describes the history of the region.
The book provides a detailed written account of the region's history.
Often used with prepositions like 'to' (describe to someone) or 'as' (describe as something).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Prepositions
Remember to use 'to' when describing something to someone (e.g., 'describe the scene to the audience').
Gold Rule
Transitive Use
Always use 'describe' with an object (e.g., 'describe the event').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'describen,' from Old French 'descrivre,' from Latin 'describere,' meaning 'to write down, copy, or draw.'
Usage Notes
Can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object). Often used in formal and informal contexts.