outline
Americannoun
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the line by which a figure or object is defined or bounded; contour.
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a drawing or sketch restricted to line without shading or modeling of form.
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a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features, as of a book, subject, or project.
an outline of medieval history; an outline of a speech.
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outlines, the essential features or main aspects of something under discussion.
At the first meeting, we gave her only the outlines of the project.
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Printing. an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white.
noun
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a preliminary or schematic plan, draft, account, etc
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(usually plural) the important features of an argument, theory, work, etc
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the line by which an object or figure is or appears to be bounded
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a drawing or manner of drawing consisting only of external lines
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( as modifier )
an outline map
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verb
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to draw or display the outline of
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to give the main features or general idea of
Related Words
See form.
Other Word Forms
- preoutline noun
- reoutline verb (used with object)
- well-outlined adjective
Etymology
Origin of outline
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In their Oval Office talk, Merz will outline the EU's "coordinated position", a spokesman said, adding that "businesses need planning security, and that applies on both sides of the Atlantic".
From Barron's
Monday’s statement outlined other agreements signed with India were to boost cooperation on critical minerals and technology.
It is generally overshadowed by the next day's opening of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, at which Premier Li Qiang will outline key growth targets.
From Barron's
Four days later, police gave a list of sightings, outlining how the pair had left Holly's house at about 17:00 BST.
From BBC
The Pentagon prefers a contract to use the tools for “any lawful use,” as outlined in its AI strategy.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
