descriptive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective serving to describe or inform or characterized by description
    • the descriptive variable
    • a descriptive passage
  2. adjective describing the structure of a language
    • descriptive grammar

WordNet

De*scrip"tive adjective
Etymology
L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.
Definitions
  1. Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) -- De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. -- De*scrip"tive*ness, n.

Webster 1913