descriptive

[ dih-skrip-tiv ]
See synonyms for descriptive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. having the quality of describing; characterized by description: a descriptive passage in an essay.

  2. Grammar.

    • (of an adjective or other modifier) expressing a quality of the word it modifies, as fresh in fresh milk.: Compare limiting (def. 2).

    • (of a clause) nonrestrictive.: Compare restrictive (def. 4).

  1. noting, concerned with, or based upon the fact or experience.

  2. characterized by or based upon the classification and description of material in a given field: descriptive botany.

Origin of descriptive

1
1745–55; <Late Latin dēscrīptīvus, equivalent to Latin dēscrīpt(us) (see description) + -īvus-ive

Other words from descriptive

  • de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
  • de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
  • non·de·scrip·tive, adjective
  • non·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
  • non·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
  • o·ver·de·scrip·tive, adjective
  • o·ver·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun
  • self-de·scrip·tive, adjective
  • un·de·scrip·tive, adjective
  • un·de·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·de·scrip·tive·ness, noun

Words Nearby descriptive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use descriptive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for descriptive

descriptive

/ (dɪˈskrɪptɪv) /


adjective
  1. characterized by or containing description; serving to describe

  2. grammar (of an adjective) serving to describe the referent of the noun modified, as for example the adjective brown as contrasted with my and former

  1. relating to or based upon description or classification rather than explanation or prescription: descriptive linguistics

Derived forms of descriptive

  • descriptively, adverb
  • descriptiveness, noun

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