Dictionary
1outline
noun out·line \ˈau̇t-ˌlīn\
: a drawing or picture that shows only the shape of an object
: a style of drawing in which only the outer edges of an object are shown
: a line that is drawn around the edges of something
Full Definition of OUTLINE
2
a : a style of drawing in which contours are marked without shading b : a sketch in outline
3
a : a condensed treatment of a particular subject <an outline of world history> b : a summary of a written work : synopsis
4
: a preliminary account of a project : plan
5
: a fishing line set out overnight
See outline defined for English-language learners
See outline defined for kids
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First Known Use of OUTLINE
1662
Related to OUTLINE
- Synonyms
- contour, figure, silhouette
Synonym Discussion of OUTLINE
outline, contour, profile, silhouette mean the line that bounds and gives form to something. outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass <traced the outline of his hand>. contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled <a car with flowing contours>. profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background <a portrait of her face in profile>. silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined <photograph in silhouette against a bright sky>.
Rhymes with OUTLINE
A-line, affine, airline, align, alkyne, alpine, assign, at sign, balkline, baseline, beeline, benign, bloodline, blue line, blush wine, bovine, bowline, branchline, breadline, bright-line, buntline, bustline, byline, call sign, canine, caprine, carbine, carmine, cervine, chow line, clothesline, cloud nine, coastline, combine, compline, condign, confine, consign, corvine, cosign, cutline, dateline, deadline, decline, define, design, divine, dragline, driveline, earthshine, Einstein, eiswein, end line, enshrine, entwine, equine, ethyne, fall line, fault line, feline, ferine, first-line, flatline, flight line, foul line, fräulein, frontline, front line, goal line, gold mine, grapevine, guideline, hairline, hard-line, hard pine, headline, hemline, high sign, hipline, Holbein, hotline, ice wine, incline, indign, in fine, in-line, Irvine, jawline, jug wine, landline, land mine, lang syne, lifeline, load line, longline, lupine, mainline, main line, malign, midline, moline, moonshine, neckline, off-line, old-line, online, opine, outshine, ovine, Pauline, peace sign, Petrine, pipeline, piscine, pitch pine, plotline, plumb line, plus sign, pontine, porcine, potline, pound sign, propine, punch line, rapine, recline, redline, red pine, refine, reline, repine, resign, Rhine wine, ridgeline, roofline, Sabine, saline, Scotch pine, scrub pine, setline, shoreline, short line, sideline, sight line, skyline, snow line, soft-line, spring line, straight-line, strandline, straw wine, streamline, strip mine, strychnine, subline, sunshine, supine, syncline, taurine, tie-line, times sign, topline, touchline, towline, tramline, trapline, tree line, trephine, trotline, truckline, trunk line, tumpline, turbine, untwine, ursine, vespine, V sign, vulpine, waistline, white line, white pine, white wine, woodbine, yard line, zebrine, Z line
2outline
verb
: to draw a line around the edges of (something)
: to list or describe only the most important parts of (an essay, speech, plan, etc.) : to give an outline of (something)
Full Definition of OUTLINE
transitive verb
1
: to draw the outline of
2
: to indicate the principal features or different parts of <outlined their responsibilities>
See outline defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of OUTLINE
circa 1790
Related to OUTLINE
- Synonyms
- define, delineate, silhouette, sketch, trace
OUTLINE Defined for Kids
1outline
noun out·line \ˈau̇t-ˌlīn\
Definition of OUTLINE for Kids
1
: a line that traces or forms the outer limits of an object or figure and shows its shape
2
: a drawing or picture or style of drawing in which only the outer edges of an object or figure are shown <outlines of animals>
3
: an often numbered or lettered list of the important parts of something (as an essay)
4
: a short treatment of a subject <an outline of world history>
2outline
verb
out·linedout·lin·ing
Definition of OUTLINE for Kids
1
: to draw or trace the outer edges of <Outline the circle in gold.>
2
: to list or describe the main features or parts of <… Mother went on outlining her plans for the storeroom. — Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill>
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