“description” is an object attribute which can be either a string or a script. It is used to describe the room when the player enters.

• If it is a string, an automatic room description is generated which lists the objects in the room and available exits (if autodescription is turned on). Then the string is printed.
• If it is a script, no automatic room description is generated. The script is run instead.

This attribute is only usually used for objects which are rooms. But if you have appendobjectdescription turned on, it is also used for objects within rooms. In this case, it is a string which is appended to the parent room description when the player enters.