Meaning

• A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.

• The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

• A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.

  "The zoo had no lions, tigers, or cats of any description."

• A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.

  "The type description of the fungus was written by a botanist."

• The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.

• A descriptive linguistic survey.