descriptor
UK: dɪˈskrɪptə | US: dɪˈskrɪptər
n. a word or phrase used to describe or identify something, especially in computing or linguistics
n. a characteristic or attribute used for classification or identification
descriptor = descript<describe> + or<agent noun suffix>
- descript (from Latin descriptus, past participle of describere "to write down, describe")
- or (agent noun suffix indicating "one who does something," from Latin -or)
Etymology Origin:
The word "descriptor" originates from the Latin describere ("to write down"), combining de- (down) + scribere (to write). The suffix -or was added to form an agent noun, meaning "one who describes." Over time, it evolved into a technical term in linguistics and computing, referring to labels or identifiers that categorize or define data.
In programming, a "descriptor" is often used to reference memory locations.
The linguist analyzed the semantic role of each descriptor in the text.
Metadata includes descriptors like "author" and "date" for file organization.
The survey asked participants to choose the most accurate descriptor for their experience.
A good descriptor should be both precise and easy to understand.