好词典

describe

UK //dɪˈskraɪb//US //dɪˈskraɪb//

词源

源自拉丁语 'describere',由 de-(向下)和 scribere(写)组成,原意为详细写下。14世纪进入英语。

verb

❶ 用语言详细说明某事物的特征、外观或性质,使他人能在脑海中形成具体形象。常用于书面或口头表达中。

“Can you describe the suspect to the police?”

(你能向警方描述嫌疑人的特征吗?)

“She described her childhood home in vivid detail.”

(她生动细致地描述了她童年的家。)

❶ 在数学或科学中,用符号、图形或公式来表现某种规律或关系。

“The equation describes the motion of the planets.”

(这个方程式描述了行星的运动规律。)

“The graph describes the relationship between temperature and pressure.”

(图表描述了温度和压力之间的关系。)

同义词:depict, portray, explain, illustrate, detail

常见短语

describe as — 将某事物说成是某种性质或状态,常用于表达主观判断或比喻。

“She described the experience as life-changing.”

(她将这次经历描述为改变人生的体验。)

hard to describe — 难以用语言准确表达的事物,通常因为其复杂性或独特性。

“The beauty of the landscape is hard to describe in words.”

(这片风景的美丽难以用语言描述。)