Description vs Definition
Description and Definition are two words that are often confused when it comes to their meanings and connotations. It is indeed true that both are different words that convey different meanings. Description is a detailed meaning of a concept or a phenomenon, whereas definition is a short meaning of a concept or a phenomenon. This is the main difference between the two words.
The word ‘description’ is generally used as a noun, and it has its verbal form in the word ‘describe’. On the other hand, the word ‘definition’ is also used as a noun, and it has its verbal form in the word ‘define’.
The word ‘definition’ is used primarily in subjects related to science and applied science. On the other hand, description pertains to any given subject. Description is always given in detail, whereas definition is given in a nutshell.
It is generally felt that description is the enlarged version of the definition. In other words, a concept that is defined in short can be explained through a description very elaborately. This is a very important observation to make when it comes to the usage of the word ‘description’.
Definition is sometimes abstract in sense. It only means that you need the help of a description sometimes to understand a definition. On the other hand, description cannot be abstract for that matter. It can only be narrative in essence. In fact, it can be said that a description gives a complete account of an event, a definition, a happening or a concept.
It is a general belief that definition and description go together. It is indeed true that a definition is followed often by a description. A definition in many cases cannot stand alone. It needs the help of a description to understand better.