outline

out·line  (outln)

n.

1.

a. A line marking the outer contours or boundaries of an object or figure.

b. The shape of an object or figure.

2.

a. A style of drawing in which objects are delineated in contours without shading.

b. A sketch done in this style.

3.

a. A general description covering the main points of a subject: an outline of American literature.

b. A statement summarizing the important points of a text.

c. A summary of a written work or speech, usually analyzed in headings and subheadings.

4. A preliminary draft or plan, as of a project or proposal.

tr.v. out·lined, out·lin·ing, out·lines

1. To draw an outline of.

2. To display or accentuate the outline of.

3. To give the main features or various aspects of; summarize: outlined the major provisions of the tax bill.

Synonyms: outline, contour, profile, silhouette
These nouns refer to a line that defines the boundary and shape of an object, mass, or figure: the outline of the mountains against the sunset; saw the island's contour from the airplane; a monarch's profile on an ancient coin; saw the dark silhouette of the family waving farewell.

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outline

Noun

1. a general explanation or description of something, which does not give all the details: the course gave a brief outline of twentieth-century music

2. outlines the important features of something: the outlines of his theory are correct, we just need to fill in the details

3. the general shape of something, esp. when only the profile and not the details are visible: it was still light enough to see the outline of the distant mountains

4. a drawing showing only the external lines of an object

Verb

[-lining, -lined]

1. to give the main features or general idea of (something): I outlined what we had done and what we had still to do

2. to show the general shape of an object but not its details, as light does coming from behind an object: we could see the towers of the city outlined against the night sky

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	outline - the line that appears to bound an object lineation boundary, bounds, bound - the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something coastline - the outline of a coast silhouette - an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow) skyline - the outline of objects seen against the sky
	2.	outline - a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory precis, synopsis, abstract sum-up, summary - a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form; "he gave a summary of the conclusions" brief - a condensed written summary or abstract apercu - a short synopsis epitome - a brief abstract (as of an article or book)
	3.	outline - a schematic or preliminary plan schema, scheme plan, program, programme - a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished; "they drew up a six-step plan"; "they discussed plans for a new bond issue"
Verb	1.	outline - describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of; "sketch the outline of the book"; "outline his ideas" adumbrate, sketch describe, depict, draw - give a description of; "He drew an elaborate plan of attack" block out - indicate roughly; "We sketched out our plan"
	2.	outline - draw up an outline or sketch for something; "draft a speech" draft authorship, penning, writing, composition - the act of creating written works; "writing was a form of therapy for him"; "it was a matter of disputed authorship" indite, pen, write, compose - produce a literary work; "She composed a poem"; "He wrote four novels"
	3.	outline - trace the shape of limn, delineate lipstick - form by tracing with lipstick; "The clown had lipsticked circles on his cheeks" contour - form the contours of draw - represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface; "She drew an elephant"; "Draw me a horse"

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outline

noun 1. summary, review, résumé, abstract, summing-up, digest, rundown, compendium, main features, synopsis, rough idea, précis, bare facts, thumbnail sketch, recapitulation, abridgment

noun 2. draft, plan, drawing, frame, tracing, rough, framework, sketch, skeleton, layout, delineation, preliminary form

noun 3. shape, lines, form, figure, profile, silhouette, configuration, contour(s), delineation, lineament(s)

verb 4. summarize, review, draft, plan, trace, sketch (in), sum up, encapsulate, delineate, rough out, adumbrate

5. silhouette, etch, delineate

Translations

outline [ˈautlaɪn] n (= shape) → contorno, perfil m;

in outline (fig) → a grandes rasgos

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outline [ˈautlaɪn] out n (= shape) → contour m (= summary); esquisse f, grandes lignes

vt (fig) [+ theory, plan]; exposer à grands traits

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outline [ˈautlaɪn] n (= shape) → Umriss m (= brief explanation); Abriss m (= rough sketch); Skizze f

vt (fig) [+ theory, plan etc]; umreißen, skizzieren

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outline [ˈautlaɪn] n → contorno, profilo (= summary); abbozzo, grandi linee fpl