1. To give an account or representation of in words
   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental";
   - report, account
    
2. Give a description of
   "He described an elaborate plan of attack";
   - depict, draw
    
3. Classify or apply the appropriate name to, e.g. in botany or biology
   "The botanist described the new plant species";
   - identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, name
    
4. Make a mark or lines on a surface
   "describe the outline of a figure in the sand";
   - trace, draw, line, delineate

Derived forms: described, describing, describes

Type of: determine, exposit, expound, inform, mark, set, set forth

Encyclopedia: Describe