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descriptive

Pronunciation: /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/

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Definition of descriptive

adjective

  • 1serving or seeking to describe:the text contains some good descriptive passages
  • Grammar (of an adjective) assigning a quality rather than restricting the application of the expression modified, e.g. blue as distinct from few.
  • 2describing or classifying in an objective and non-judgemental way.
  • Linguistics denoting or relating to an approach to language analysis that describes accents, forms, structures, and usage without making value judgements. Often contrasted with prescriptive.

Derivatives

descriptively

adverb

descriptiveness

noun

Origin:

mid 18th century: from late Latin descriptivus, from descript- 'written down', from the verb describere (see describe)

descriptive in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of descriptive in the US English dictionary
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