descriptors

IPA/dɪskɹˈɪptəz/
KK[dɪskrˈɪptˌɚz]IPA/dɪskrˈɪptˌərz/

descriptors — noun

1. words, labels, or noticeable features that show what a person or thing is like a

1.nounC1
Definition

words, labels, or noticeable features that show what a person or thing is like and help people tell it apart from similar ones

Example

Mateo added descriptors like smoky and dry to each tea review.

descriptors like + examples in a review

Police asked Eve for clear descriptors of the man who took her bag.

descriptors of + person being identified

Common collocations
  • clear descriptors
  • visual descriptors
  • descriptors for search
  • choose descriptors carefully
  • a list of descriptors
Synonyms
  • labels

    often used for short category names rather than fuller descriptive details

  • features

    broader and often refers to actual qualities of the thing itself

  • characteristics

    slightly more formal and often used in analysis or reports

  • qualifiers

    narrower; often refers to words that limit or specify meaning

Grammar Patterns

descriptors for + noun

use/add/choose descriptors

descriptors such as + noun

Usage Note

Usually appears in the plural when several qualities, labels, or identifying details are being listed together. Common after verbs such as use, add, choose, and sort by, especially in reviews, search tools, and identification tasks.

Common Mistakes

Please add three descriptor to the file.
Please add three descriptors to the file.
after a number, use the plural noun.
The guide wrote a long descriptor of the castle.
The guide wrote a long description of the castle.
descriptor is a naming word or feature, not a full written account.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Descriptor is useful when you mean a word, tag, or identifying detail that helps someone picture or recognize something. Label is narrower: it often means a short category name attached to an item, file, or product. Feature usually points to an actual quality of the thing itself, such as size, texture, or shape, rather than the language used to describe it. Characteristic is more formal and often appears in reports or analysis. Qualifier is narrower still, often referring to a word that limits or specifies another word's meaning. If a museum asks visitors to choose descriptors for a painting, it wants describing words or identifying details, not just any feature the painting has.

labels ↗features ↗characteristics ↗qualifiers

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a list of descriptors
  • choose descriptors carefully
  • use descriptors for search

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Descriptors is the plural of descriptor. The word was built in English from describe plus the agent ending -or, with the deeper root going back to Latin describere, meaning to write out, mark out, or portray in words. Over time, descriptor came to mean a word, label, or identifying feature used to characterize something.