# describe

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ · frequency rank #2,671

## Definitions
1. To represent in words.
2. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out.
3. To give rise to a geometrical structure.
4. To introduce a new taxon to science by explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other taxa.
5. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class.

## Etymology
From Middle English descriven, from Old French descrivre, from Latin dēscrībō (“to copy off, transcribe, sketch off, describe in painting or writing”), from dē (“off”) + scrībō (“write”); see scribe and shrive. Displaced native Old English āmearcian.

## Easily confused with
- **described** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/describe-vs-described)
- **describes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/describe-vs-describes)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddescribe`, `decsribe`, `desccribe`, `descirbe`, `descrbie`, `describbe`, `descrieb`, `descrribe`, `desrcibe`, `desscribe`, `dsecribe`, `edscribe`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/describe