Definitions for descriptive
dɪˈskrɪp tɪvde·scrip·tive

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.2 / 10 votes

1. descriptiveadjective

   serving to describe or inform or characterized by description

   "the descriptive variable"; "a descriptive passage"

2. descriptiveadjective

   describing the structure of a language

   "descriptive grammar"

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.7 / 3 votes

1. descriptivenoun

   An adjective (or other descriptive word)

2. descriptiveadjective

   Of, or relating to description.

3. descriptiveadjective

   Of an adjective, stating an attribute of the associated noun (as heavy in the heavy dictionary).

4. descriptiveadjective

   Describing the structure, grammar, vocabulary and actual use of a language.

5. descriptiveadjective

   Describing and seeking to classify, as opposed to normative or prescriptive.

6. Etymology: From descriptivus

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. descriptive

   In the study of language, description or descriptive linguistics is the work of objectively analyzing and describing how language is actually used (or how it was used in the past) by a speech community.All academic research in linguistics is descriptive; like all other scientific disciplines, it seeks to describe reality, without the bias of preconceived ideas about how it ought to be. Modern descriptive linguistics is based on a structural approach to language, as exemplified in the work of Leonard Bloomfield and others. This type of linguistics utilizes different methods in order to describe a language such as basic data collection, and different types of elicitation methods.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Descriptiveadjective

   tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age

2. Etymology: [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. descriptive

   The use of language to describe.

   The article was descriptive and accurate to describe the definition.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 19, 2020  

How to pronounce descriptive?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say descriptive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of descriptive in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of descriptive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of descriptive in a Sentence

1. Daniel Cameron:

   Today, the published literature is very descriptive on all the problems that happen. It’s just that doctors are divided and it’s not clear why there’s disagreement on something that’s so common.

2. Brian McNoldy:

   The cone graphics try to be everything to everyone, and the end result is a complicated graphic that might not necessarily meet its goals, although all of its components are described on the graphic itself, people don't always read legends or descriptive text.

3. Tracey Lomax:

   No one knows what it’s like to get a descriptive, detailed way of how someone you love died, a lot of people don’t get a description of how someone died in hospital. But for us, it was in the news every day. It was very hard to read. But it was unavoidable.

4. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid:

   My staff has always said, 'Don't say this,' but I'm going to say it again because it's so descriptive because it's true, in the summertime, because [of] the high humidity and how hot it gets here, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol.

5. Raj Dasgupta:

   We're talking loud, obnoxious snoring, the type that would drown out conversations or be heard through closed doors, some of the very descriptive bed partners of my patients with obstructive sleep apnea describe their partners' snores as listening to a' dying bear' or a scene from' Jurassic Park,'.

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