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descriptive - 3 dictionary results

de⋅scrip⋅tive

  [di-skrip-tiv]
Use descriptive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having the quality of describing; characterized by description: a descriptive passage in an essay.
2.
a. Grammar. (of an adjective or other modifier) expressing a quality of the word it modifies, as fresh in fresh milk. Compare limiting.
b. (of a clause) nonrestrictive. Compare restrictive (def. 4).
3. noting, concerned with, or based upon the fact or experience.
4. characterized by or based upon the classification and description of material in a given field: descriptive botany.
Origin:
1745–55; < LL dēscrīptīvus, equiv. to L dēscrīpt(us) (see description ) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
de⋅scrip⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
de⋅scrip⋅tive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To descriptive
de·scrip·tive   (dĭ-skrĭp'tĭv)   
adj.  
  1. Involving or characterized by description; serving to describe.
  2. Concerned with classification or description: a descriptive science.
  3. Grammar
    1. Expressing an attribute of the modified noun, as green in green grass. Used of an adjective or adjectival clause.
    2. Nonrestrictive.
  4. Linguistics Of or relating to the study or the description of a language or a specific stage of a language, with emphasis on constructing a grammar without regard to historical development, comparison with other languages, or advocated norms for correct or proper usage.
de·scrip'tive·ly adv., de·scrip'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Descriptive

De*scrip"tive\, a. [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.] Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age.

Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures.

Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes. --Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) -- De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. -- De*scrip"tive*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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