What's the difference between characterize and describe?

Characterize


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features.
  • (v. t.) To engrave or imprint.
  • (v. t.) To indicate the character of; to describe.
  • (v. t.) To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) This particular variant of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules, scanty or absent systemic manifestations and a clinically benign course.
  • (2) We conclude that chronic emphysema produced in dogs by aerosol administration of papain results in elevated pulmonary artery pressure, which is characterized pathologically by medial hypertrophy of small pulmonary arteries.
  • (3) At the early phase of the sensitization a T-cell response was seen in vitro, characterized by an increased spleen but no peripheral blood lymphocyte reactivity to T-cell mitogens at the same time as increased reactivity to the sensitizing antigen was detected.
  • (4) Osteoporosis is characterized by a reduction in bone density.
  • (5) The oral nerve endings of the palate, the buccal mucosa and the periodontal ligament of the cat canine were characterized by the presence of a cellular envelope which is the final form of the Henle sheath.
  • (6) An inflammatory process than occurs in the airways that is characterized by an influx of eosinophils and neutrophils into the airway epithelium and bronchial fluids.
  • (7) Three overlapping clones, spanning a total of 19 kb of the human SC gene, including 3 kb of the 5' flanking region, were characterized.
  • (8) However, its identity requires further characterization.
  • (9) Time-series analysis and multiple-regression modeling procedures were used to characterize changes in the overall incidence rate over the study period and to describe the contribution of additional measures to the dynamics of the incidence rates.
  • (10) Regression curves indicate that although all three types of pulmonary edema can be characterized by slightly different slopes, the differences are statistically insignificant.
  • (11) The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of cromakalim (BRL 34915), a potent drug from a new class of drugs characterized as "K+ channel openers", on the electrical activity of human skeletal muscle.
  • (12) To further characterize the molecular forms of GnRH in each species, the extracts were injected into a high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC).
  • (13) When compared with nonspecialized regions of the cell membranes, these contact sites were characterized by a decreased intercellular distance, subplasmalemmal densities and coated pits.
  • (14) The kidney disease was characterized by diffuse beaded deposition of rat gammaglobulin along the glomerular capillaries and proteinuria.
  • (15) These results suggest that CD4+ protective T cells generated by immunization with vBCG are characterized by the ability to produce IFN-gamma after stimulation with specific Ag.
  • (16) Much information has accumulated on the isolation and characterization of a heterogeneous group of molecules that inhibit one or more of the bioactivities of interleukin 1.
  • (17) A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to characterize the spatial and energy distribution of bremsstrahlung radiation from beta point sources important to radioimmunotherapy (RIT).
  • (18) The presence of these markers has facilitated the identification and characterization of the mononuclear cells in a number of animal and human lymphoid malignancies.
  • (19) Four cDNAs extending into the 5'-noncoding region of the human von Willebrand factor cDNA have been characterized.
  • (20) The genome characterization of the typing strains for all 13 species of the genus Staphylococcus, included into the Approval List of the Names of Bacterial (1980), is presented.

Describe


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.
  • (v. t.) To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities.
  • (v. t.) To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class.
  • (v. i.) To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Indicators for evaluation and monitoring and outcome measures are described within the context of health service management to describe control measure output in terms of community effectiveness.
  • (2) All transplants were performed using standard techniques, the operation for the two groups differing only as described above.
  • (3) In January 2011, the Nobel peace prize laureate was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials initially described as tests but what turned out to be an acute respiratory infection .
  • (4) The taxonomic relationship of strains H4-14 and 25a with previously described Xanthobacter strains was studied by numerical classification.
  • (5) Models able to describe the events of cellular growth and division and the dynamics of cell populations are useful for the understanding of functional control mechanisms and for the theoretical support for automated analysis of flow cytometric data and of cell volume distributions.
  • (6) The testing of other models and their failure to describe the kinetic observations are discussed.
  • (7) A group I subset (six animals), for which predominant cultivable microbiota was described, had a mean GI of 2.4.
  • (8) On the basis of 180 interventions, they describe in detail the use of fibrin glue in myringo- and tympanoplasty for correct fixing of grafts.
  • (9) Local embolism, vertebral distal-stump embolism, the dynamics of hemorrhagic infarction and embolus-in-transit are briefly described.
  • (10) This article describes a number of syndromes affecting the nail unit.
  • (11) King also described how representatives of every country at this month's G7 meeting in Canada seemed to be relying on an export-led recovery to revive their economies.
  • (12) Some commentators have described his ship, now facing more delays after a decade in development, as little more than a Heath Robinson machine.
  • (13) The small units described here could be inhibitory interneurons which convert the excitatory response of large units into inhibition.
  • (14) A disease in an IgD (lambda) plasmocytoma is described, where after therapy with Alkeran and prednisone a disappearance of all clinical and laboratory findings indicating an activity could be observed.
  • (15) These authors, therefore, conclude that this modified surgical approach is a viable alternative to the previously described procedures for resistant metatarsus adductus.
  • (16) It was the purpose of the present study to describe the normal pattern of the growth sites of the nasal septum according to age and sex by histological and microradiographical examination of human autopsy material.
  • (17) Each profile is described by a simple sequence of band transitions (BT-sequence).
  • (18) After a discussion of the therapeutic relationship, several coping strategies which have been used successfully by many women are described and therapeutic applications are offered.
  • (19) The article describes an unusual case with development of a right anterior mediastinal mass after bypass surgery with internal mammary artery grafts.
  • (20) One rare case of blind-ending branch originating in the upper third of the ureter are described.