Describe meanings in Italian

descrivere

Example:

Can you describe the painting to me?

Puoi descrivere il quadro a me?

She described her trip in great detail.

Lei ha descritto il suo viaggio nei minimi dettagli.

Usage: formalContext: Used in formal and informal contexts to explain or give an account of something in detail.

Note: The most common translation of 'describe' in Italian.

rappresentare

Example:

The artist described the beauty of the landscape in his painting.

L'artista ha rappresentato la bellezza del paesaggio nel suo dipinto.

The book describes the history of the ancient civilization.

Il libro rappresenta la storia dell'antica civiltà.

Usage: formalContext: Used to indicate representing or portraying something in a specific way, often in artistic or literary contexts.

Note: Can be used in contexts related to art, literature, or visual representations.

definire

Example:

How would you describe happiness?

Come definiresti la felicità?

The term is difficult to describe in just a few words.

Il termine è difficile da definire in poche parole.

Usage: formalContext: Used when trying to explain or give meaning to a concept or idea.

Note: Can be used when discussing abstract or complex concepts.

enumerare

Example:

Could you describe the steps to solve the problem?

Potresti enumerare i passaggi per risolvere il problema?

She described the ingredients needed for the recipe.

Ha enumerato gli ingredienti necessari per la ricetta.

Usage: formalContext: Used to list or enumerate items, steps, or components.

Note: Commonly used in instructional or procedural contexts.

caratterizzare

Example:

The film describes the protagonist as a fearless hero.

Il film caratterizza il protagonista come un eroe coraggioso.

The novel describes the main character's internal struggles.

Il romanzo caratterizza le lotte interiori del personaggio principale.

Usage: formalContext: Used to depict the qualities or characteristics of a person, place, or thing.

Note: Can be used in literary or analytical contexts to discuss character traits or attributes.

depict

To depict means to show or represent something in a picture or story.

Example: The artist depicted a beautiful sunset in her painting.

Note: Depict is more commonly used in the context of visual representation, while describe is more general.

portray

To portray means to depict or represent someone or something in a particular way.

Example: The author portrayed the protagonist as a brave and determined character.

Note: Portray often implies a specific perspective or characterization, while describe is more about providing details or information.

characterize

To characterize means to describe the distinctive features or qualities of someone or something.

Example: The novel characterizes the struggles of immigrants in a new country.

Note: Characterize focuses on highlighting specific traits or qualities, while describe is more about providing an overall account.

outline

To outline means to give a brief summary or overview of something.

Example: The teacher asked the students to outline the main points of the lesson.

Note: Outline is more concise and focused on key points, while describe is more detailed and comprehensive.

Paint a picture

To describe something in a detailed and vivid manner to help others visualize or understand it better.

Example: She painted a vivid picture of her vacation in Italy.

Note: This phrase emphasizes creating a visual image through description.

Put into words

To describe or explain something using language or expressions.

Example: It's hard to put into words how grateful I am for your help.

Note: This phrase highlights the act of verbalizing descriptions.

Tell me about

To request information or a description of a specific topic or event.

Example: Can you tell me about your trip to Japan?

Note: This phrase is a direct request for a description of something.

Give me the lowdown

To provide a detailed description or explanation of a situation or event.

Example: Can you give me the lowdown on what happened at the meeting?

Note: This informal phrase implies a thorough and concise description.

Break it down

To explain or describe something in simpler or more detailed parts.

Example: Could you break down the process for me step by step?

Note: This phrase suggests breaking a description into easily understandable components.

Get the gist

To understand the main point or essence of something without needing a detailed description.

Example: I didn't catch all the details, but I got the gist of what she was saying.

Note: This phrase focuses on grasping the core idea without requiring a full description.

Put it in a nutshell

To summarize or describe something concisely in a few words or sentences.

Example: Can you put the main points of the report in a nutshell for me?

Note: This phrase emphasizes brevity in description, capturing key points succinctly.

Give me a rundown

To provide a brief summary or description of a list of items or events.

Example: Could you give me a quick rundown of what's on the agenda for the meeting?

Note: This phrase suggests a quick and summarized description of multiple points or topics.

Spell it out

To explain or describe something in a clear and detailed manner.

Example: I need you to spell out the guidelines for me clearly.

Note: This phrase emphasizes clarity and explicitness in descriptions.

Put it in layman's terms

This phrase means to explain something complex or technical in simple, easy-to-understand language that a non-expert can comprehend.

Example: Can you put that scientific jargon in layman's terms for me?

Note: The original word 'describe' is more formal, while 'put it in layman's terms' is informal and approachable.

Break it down for me

To break something down means to explain it in smaller or simpler parts to aid understanding.

Example: Could you break down the plot of the movie for me?

Note: While 'describe' is a general term for explaining something, 'break it down' specifically indicates dissecting the information.

Give me the scoop

To give someone the scoop means to provide them with all the latest and most important information or details about a specific topic.

Example: What's the scoop on the new restaurant in town?

Note: Unlike 'describe,' which is a neutral term for explanation, 'give me the scoop' implies sharing insider or exclusive information.

Hit me with the details

This expression is a way to request a thorough explanation or account of specific information or events.

Example: I need you to hit me with the details of how the project went.

Note: While 'describe' is a standard term for explaining, 'hit me with the details' emphasizes a strong desire for in-depth information.

Spell it out for me

To spell something out means to explain it very clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or misunderstanding.

Example: I'm not following, can you spell it out for me?

Note: In contrast to 'describe,' which is a general term for explanation, 'spell it out for me' indicates a need for explicit and unambiguous explanation.

Describe the picture for me.

Descrivimi l'immagine.

Can you describe your job to me?

Puoi descrivermi il tuo lavoro?

Please describe the suspect to the police.

Per favore, descrivi il sospetto alla polizia.

Describe - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)

Lemma: describe

Conjugations

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): described

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): describing

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): describes

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): describe

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): describe

Syllabification and Stress

describe Contains 2 syllables: de • scribe

Phonetic transcription: di-ˈskrīb

de scribe , di ˈskrīb (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

describe: 400 - 500 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Describe