Describes

Describes is the third-person singular present form of the verb describe. It denotes the act of giving an account of the properties, qualities, events, or characteristics of someone or something through spoken or written language. In everyday and formal writing, describes is used to convey details about a subject for clarity, explanation, or narration. It is typically transitive, requiring a direct object, as in “The report describes the process in detail” or “She describes the scene vividly.”

Etymology and grammar: Describe comes from Latin describere, from de- (down, from) and scribere (to write). The form describes follows standard English conjugation for regular verbs in the present tense. It can describe people, objects, actions, ideas, or situations, and may be followed by phrases such as “as,” “in terms of,” or “with respect to” to introduce a particular interpretation or classification. In descriptive writing, the verb often coexists with adjectives and descriptive phrases to convey texture, color, or mood.

Context and usage: Beyond general writing, describes appears in scientific, journalistic, and academic contexts to summarize findings or events. It can imply objectivity when just listing observed features, or interpretation when indicating significance or implications. In formal or technical writing, writers may distinguish between what is described (the observed description) and the description’s interpretation or explanation.

Related terms include describe, description, descriptive, and description-based, along with synonyms such as depict, portray, detail, and explain.