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

a. Expressing an attribute of the modified noun, as green in green grass. Used of an adjective or adjectival clause.

b. 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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

descriptive

(dɪˈskrɪptɪv)

adj

1. characterized by or containing description; serving to describe

2. (Grammar) 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

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

deˈscriptively adv

deˈscriptiveness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•scrip•tive

(dɪˈskrɪp tɪv)

adj.

1. serving to describe; characterized by description: a descriptive passage in an essay.

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

b. nonrestrictive: a descriptive clause.

3. noting, concerned with, or based upon experience or observation.

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

5. based on or concerned with the actual usage of speakers of a language without reference to norms of correctness or advocacy of rules based on such norms: descriptive grammar.

[1745–55; < Late Latin]

de•scrip′tive•ly, adv.

de•scrip′tive•ness, n.

de•scrip′tiv•ist, n., adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	descriptive - serving to describe or inform or characterized by description; "the descriptive variable"; "a descriptive passage" undescriptive - not successful in describing
	2.	descriptive - describing the structure of a language; "descriptive grammar" grammar - the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics) prescriptive, normative - pertaining to giving directives or rules; "prescriptive grammar is concerned with norms of or rules for correct usage"

descriptive

adjective graphic, vivid, expressive, picturesque, detailed, explanatory, pictorial, illustrative, depictive The group adopted a simpler, more descriptive title.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

descriptive

adjective

Serving to describe:

delineative, graphic, representative.

Translations

descrittivo

descriptive

[dɪsˈkrɪptɪv] ADJ → descriptivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

descriptive

[dɪˈskrɪptɪv] adj → descriptif/ive

descriptive

adj

→ beschreibend; account, adjective, passage → anschaulich; descriptive writing → Beschreibung f; his descriptive powers → sein Talent zur Beschreibung; to be descriptive of something → etw beschreiben

linguistics, science etc → deskriptiv

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

descriptive

[dɪsˈkrɪptɪv] adj → descrittivo/a