outline
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outline
- /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
Where it comes from
From out + line.
noun outlines
-
A line marking the boundary of an object figure.
Similar: lineation
- The outer shape of an object or figure. From this point of vantage, we were able to gain an impression of the massive outlines of the main structure, and its intricate maze of girders.
- A sketch or drawing in which objects are delineated in contours without shading. Painters, by their outlines, colours, lights, and shadows, represent the same in their pictures.
- A general description of some subject.
- A statement summarizing the important points of a text.
- A preliminary plan for a project. the outline of a speech
- A prose telling of a story intended to be turned into a screenplay; generally longer and more detailed than a treatment.
- A setline or trotline.
verb outlines · outlining · outlined
- To draw an outline of; to describe. He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the des
- To summarize. Wikipedia items featuring books usually outline them after giving their background.
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To optimize for size by replacing repeated code fragments with function calls.
Similar: reverse inline
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: delineate, limn, sketch, draw up, draw, compose, abstract, synopsis, frame, describe, schema, chalk out, line, trace, precis, adumbrate
Translations
Every language
noun line marking the boundary of an object figure
| Español | contorno |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 中抜き uwatsuki |
| Português | contorno |
| Français | contour |
| Deutsch | Umriss, Kontur |
| Italiano | contorno |
| Română | contur |
| Русский | ко́нтур kóntur, очерта́ние očertánije |
| עברית | קו מתאר |
noun outer shape of an object or figure
| Español | contorno |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 外形 gaikei, 輪郭 rinkaku |
| 中文 | 輪廓 /轮廓 lúnkuò |
| Português | contorno |
| Français | silhouette |
| Deutsch | Umriss |
| Italiano | contorno |
| Română | contur |
| Русский | ко́нтур kóntur, очерта́ние očertánije |
noun sketch or drawing in which objects are delineated in contours without shading
| Español | delineación, delineamento, delineamiento, croquis |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 輪郭描写 rinkaku-byōsha |
| 中文 | 輪廓 /轮廓 lúnkuò |
| Português | esboço |
| Français | esquisse |
| Deutsch | Skizze, Skizzierung, Umrisszeichnung, Konturenzeichnung |
| Italiano | sagoma |
| Română | schiță |
| Русский | набро́сок nabrósok |
noun general description of some subject
| Español | esquema, boceto |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 概略 gairyaku, 概要 gaiyō |
| Português | resumo |
| Français | aperçu |
| Deutsch | Beschreibung |
| Italiano | descrizione |
noun statement summarizing the important points of a text
| Español | resumen, esquema, boceto, balotario |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 主旨 shushi, 要旨 yōshi |
| Português | resumo, sinopse |
| Français | résumé |
| Deutsch | Zusammenfassung |
| Italiano | sunto |
| עברית | תמצית |
noun preliminary plan of a project
| 日本語 | 概要 gaiyō |
|---|---|
| Português | esboço |
| Français | ébauche |
| Deutsch | Entwurf |
| Italiano | bozza |
| עברית | מתאר, תוואי |
noun (film industry) a prose telling of a story intended to be turned into a screenplay
| 日本語 | あらまし aramashi, 荒筋 arasuji, 粗筋 arasuji |
|---|---|
| Français | synopsis |
verb to draw an outline of something
| Français | entourer |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | umreißen |
| Italiano | contornare, delineare |
| Русский | обрисо́вывать obrisóvyvatʹ, обрисова́ть obrisovátʹ, оче́рчивать očérčivatʹ, очерти́ть očertítʹ |
| العربية | لَخَّصَ laḵḵaṣa, اِخْتَصَرَ iḵtaṣara |
verb to summarize something
| Español | bocetear, abocetar, bocetar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | zusammenfassen |
| Italiano | riassumere, illustrare |
| Русский | опи́сывать opísyvatʹ, описа́ть opisátʹ |
| עברית | תֵּאֵר teér |
Talk about this word "outline." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/outline. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. outline. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/outline "outline." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/outline.Cite this
@misc{outline_2026,
title = {outline},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/outline},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
