describe

describe
    v 1: give a description of; "He drew an elaborate plan of
         attack" [syn: {describe}, {depict}, {draw}]
    2: to give an account or representation of in words; "Discreet
       Italian police described it in a manner typically
       continental" [syn: {report}, {describe}, {account}]
    3: make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the
       outline of a figure in the sand" [syn: {trace}, {draw},
       {line}, {describe}, {delineate}]
    4: identify as in botany or biology, for example [syn:
       {identify}, {discover}, {key}, {key out}, {distinguish},
       {describe}, {name}]
    

Describe \De*scribe"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Described}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Describing}.] [L. describere, descriptum; de- +
   scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F.
   d['e]crire. See {Scribe}, and cf. {Descry}.]
   1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate;
      to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the
      compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as
      to describe a circle.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an
      account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as,
      the geographer describes countries and cities.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off;
      to class. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Passed through the land, and described it by cities
            into seven parts in a book.           --Josh. xviii.
                                                  9.

   Syn: To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount;
        narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize.
        [1913 Webster]
    

Describe \De*scribe"\, v. i.
   To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as,
   Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.
   [1913 Webster]
    

58 Moby Thesaurus words for "describe":
      be characteristic, bring to life, character, characterize,
      chronicle, construe, define, delineate, demarcate, depict, detail,
      diagnose, differentiate, distinguish, draw, earmark, evoke,
      explain, express, give words to, identify, interpret, keynote,
      label, limn, mark, mark off, mark out, narrate, outline, paint,
      picture, portray, read, read into, recite, recount, relate, render,
      report, represent, retail, set apart, set forth, set the pace,
      set the tone, sketch, sound the keynote, specify, style, take,
      take it that, take to mean, trace, traverse, understand,
      understand by, write