Descreve

Descreve is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Portuguese verb descrever, which means to describe. It is used to indicate that someone describes something in the present tense. For example: ela descreve o cenário com detalhes. The form is also used with the polite address you in Brazilian Portuguese, as in você descreve, where the verb agrees with the third-person singular subject.

Etymology and scope: Descrever derives from Latin describere, from the prefix de- plus scribere, meaning to write down or to detail. In Portuguese, the semantic shift from “write down” to “describe” is common, so the current meaning centers on detailing characteristics, features, or events.

Grammar and usage: Descreve governs a direct object, as in described objects, people, or situations. It appears in various contexts such as journalism, narration, instruction, and everyday speech. Related forms include eu descrevo (I describe), tu descreves or você descreve (you describe), nós descrevemos, vós descreveis, eles descrevem. The gerund is descrevendo, and the past participle is descrito.

Noun and related terms: The action or result of describing is the descrição (description). Related adjectives include descritivo, which pertains to describing or detailing. Phrases commonly paired with descreve include describir a aparência, descrever um procedimento, and descrever uma situação.

See also: Descrição, descrever, descrição detalhada, descrição objetiva. Descrever is distinguished from explicar (to explain) by focusing on presenting attributes or appearances rather than reasons or causes.