different between classification vs description

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French classification

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?klæs?f??ke???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

classification (countable and uncountable, plural classifications)

1. The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or attributes.
   • 1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 69 (Totem Books, Icon Books; ?ISBN

     I’m using mathesis — a universal science of measurement and order …
     And there is also taxinomia a principle of 'classification' and ordered tabulation.
     Knowledge replaced universal resemblance with finite differences. History was arrested and turned into tables …
     Western reason had entered the age of judgement.

Derived terms

• classification scheme
• classification yard

Related terms

• class
• classic
• classify
• category
• categorize
• segment

Translations

Further reading

• classification in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• classification in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• classification at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Etymology

classe +? -ification

Pronunciation

Noun

classification f (plural classifications)

1. classification

Further reading

• “classification” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Old French description, from Latin d?scr?pti?, noun of action of d?scr?b? (“I describe”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??sk??p??n/

Noun

description (countable and uncountable, plural descriptions)

1. 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.
2. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
3. A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.

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

4. (taxonomy) 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.

5. (linguistics) 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.
6. (linguistics) A descriptive linguistic survey.

Synonyms

• (characteristics): sort, kind, type, variety

Derived terms

Related terms

• describe
• descriptive

Translations

See also

• prescription
• descriptivism

Further reading

• description in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• description in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

See also

• synopsis
• interpretation

Anagrams

• discerption, predictions

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin d?scripti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s.k?ip.sj??/
• Homophone: descriptions

Noun

description f (plural descriptions)

1. description

Related terms

• décrire
• descriptif

Further reading

• “description” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Old French

Etymology

From Latin d?scripti?.

Noun

description f (oblique plural descriptions, nominative singular description, nominative plural descriptions)

1. description

Related terms

• descrivre