define vs describe

define

verb
  • To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol. 

  • To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression. 

  • To establish the referent of a term or notation. 

  • To express the essential nature of something. 

  • To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly. 

  • To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept. 

noun
  • A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs. 

describe

verb
  • To represent in words. 

  • To give rise to a geometrical structure. 

  • To introduce a new taxon to science by explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other taxa. 

  • To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out. 

How often have the words define and describe occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )