Записать to jot down, record, enrol
Is "write down" not appropriate?

Описывать
+ся to describe ones self
I doubt it. This meaning looks artificial and I can't imagine anyone applying it to this word. In real life it would mean either "to be making a slip (of the pen)" or "to be doing a certain thing to oneself that is related to the word пИсать (Lingvo doesn't have this meaning, sorry )".