diff --git a/man2/select.2 b/man2/select.2
index e703d71eb..af6a59c4d 100644
--- a/man2/select.2
+++ b/man2/select.2
@@ -74,9 +74,19 @@ select, pselect, FD_CLR, FD_ISSET, FD_SET, FD_ZERO \- synchronous I/O multiplexi
 .BR select ()
 and
 .BR pselect ()
-wait for one or more file descriptors to change status.
+allow a process to monitor multiple file descriptors,
+waiting until one or more of the file descriptors become "ready"
+for some class of I/O operation (e.g., input possible).
+A file descriptor is consider ready if it is possible to
+perform the corresponding I/O operation (e.g., 
+.BR read (2))
+without blocking.
 .PP
-Their operation is identical, with three differences:
+The operation of
+.BR select ()
+and
+.BR pselect ()
+is identical, with three differences:
 .TP
 (i)
 .BR select ()