Meaning & use
descriptor
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Meanings
nouncountable
A word or phrase that names a quality or feature of someone or something.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a descriptor' or 'descriptors'. Often followed by 'of' or 'for'.
Patterns
- a descriptor of something
- a descriptor for someone
- use something as a descriptor
In the report, 'reliable' is used as a descriptor of the service.
The job listing included several descriptors for the ideal candidate.
Each image in the database has a short descriptor attached to it.
nouncountabletechnical
A label or category used in a system to organize or classify data.
Grammar: Common in technical and academic contexts.
Patterns
- a data descriptor
- assign a descriptor
- a descriptor field
The software uses descriptors to sort files automatically.
Please choose the correct descriptor from the drop-down menu.
Researchers assigned a descriptor to each sample before analysis.
Word forms
| plural | descriptors |
|---|
Common combinations
- a descriptor of
- 'Hardworking' is a common descriptor of successful students.
- use as a descriptor
- The word 'green' can be used as a descriptor for environmentally friendly products.
- data descriptor
- The data descriptor explains what each column contains.
- job descriptor
- The job descriptor lists the main duties of the role.
Synonyms and how they differ
- label
- A label is a broader term for any name or tag, while a descriptor specifically describes a quality.
- attribute
- An attribute is a characteristic that someone or something has; a descriptor is the word used to name it.
- modifier
- In grammar, a modifier changes or adds to the meaning of another word; a descriptor can be a modifier but is not always one.
Word family
- describe verb
- To say what someone or something is like.
- description noun
- A statement that tells what someone or something is like.
- descriptive adjective
- Describing something, especially in a detailed way.
Commonly confused: descriptor or description?
descriptor vs description
A description is a full account; a descriptor is a single word or short phrase that names a quality.
Practice
In the sentence 'The word "tall" is a descriptor of the building,' what does 'descriptor' mean?
Choose one answer.
A descriptor is a word or phrase that describes a quality, so 'tall' describes the building's height. The other options are unrelated to the meaning of 'descriptor'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “descriptor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.