describe vs explain

describe

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

  • To give rise to a geometrical structure. 

  • To represent in words. 

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

explain

verb
  • To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of. 

  • To give a valid excuse for past behavior. 

  • To make something plain or intelligible. 

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