descriptor

de·scrip·tor
D2E1S1C3R1I1P3T1O1R1
Australia, UK/dɪˈskɹɪp.tə/Canada, US/dɪˈskɹɪp.təɹ/New Zealand/dəˈskɹəp.tə/Scotland/dɪˈskɹɪp.təɾ/

noun

A name associated with certain data or documents in an information storage and retrieval system; an index term.

Similar
index termformword formsignifier
OriginLate Latin dēscrīptor →
Less commonScrabble 15
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Meanings

noundescriptor (plural descriptors)

plural descriptors

  1. That which describes; a word, phrase, etc. serving as a description.
    1. computingA name associated with certain data or documents in an information storage and retrieval system; an index term.

      Synonyms: index term

    2. human sciencesA word or expression used to describe or identify something.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA name associated with certain data or documents in an information storage and retrieval system; an index term.

Similar
index term

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

Similar
formword formsignifier
Broader
word
Also see
formindex termsignifier

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Late Latindēscrīptor
  2. Late Latindēscrīptor
  3. Englishdescriptor

Learned borrowing from Late Latin dēscrīptōris. Compare describe.

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kuvain, asiasana
  • kuvainname associated with data or documents
  • asiasananame associated with data or documents
  • kuvailusanaword or expression used to describe or identify something
  • kuvaajathat which describes
German Deskriptor
  • Deskriptorname associated with data or documents
Hungarian deszkriptor
  • deszkriptorname associated with data or documents
Indonesian deskriptor, deskriptor
  • deskriptorname associated with data or documents
  • deskriptorthat which describes
Italian descrittore
  • descrittorename associated with data or documents
Japanese 記述語
  • 記述語 (kijutsu-go)that which describes
Malay pemerihal, penerang
  • pemerihalname associated with data or documents
  • penerangname associated with data or documents
  • pemerihalthat which describes
  • petunjukthat which describes
Polish deskryptor, deskryptor
  • deskryptorname associated with data or documents
  • deskryptorword or expression used to describe or identify something
  • deskryptorthat which describes
Portuguese descritor
  • descritorthat which describes
Romanian descriptor
  • descriptorthat which describes
Spanish descriptor, descriptor
  • descriptorname associated with data or documents
  • descriptorthat which describes

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

discerptor
Cite this entry
APA

descriptor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descriptor

MLA

“descriptor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descriptor. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “descriptor,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/descriptor.

Source: descriptor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.