delineation

[ dih-lin-ee-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of delineating.
2. a chart or diagram; sketch; rough draft.
3. a description.

Other Words From

• de·lin·e·a·tive [dih-, lin, -ee-ey-tiv, -ee-, uh, -tiv], adjective
• nonde·line·ation noun
• nonde·line·ative adjective
• prede·line·ation noun
• unde·line·ative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delineation¹

1560–70; < Late Latin dēlīneātiōn- (stem of dēlīneātiō ) a sketch, equivalent to Latin dēlīneāt ( us ) ( delineate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

It blends uncomfortably with the cavern wall, as the sharp delineation between body and surrounding is still beyond the mapping tool’s capabilities.

From Popular-Science

The “wavefront” is the delineation between one type of organization and the next.

From Popular-Science

Our daily activity hinged on the repeated description — description, elaboration, and delineation — of matters that were, outside, generally subject to euphemism and elision.

From Washington Post

Lifted and unlifted kids generally don’t mix, and this is just one of many sinister delineations between a new breed of haves and have-nots.

From Singularity Hub 

The real function of NFTs is to create a clear delineation between ordinary creators and consumers of online content and those privileged enough to be paid to produce content or claim to own “authentic” work.

From Singularity Hub 

Delineation of the current U.S. obesity epidemic has been one of the main accomplishments of the CDC over the last decade.

From The Daily Beast

Nor are these defects compensated by any high degree of merit in the delineation of the characters.

From Project Gutenberg

Nay, as including these services and others, though as different from each of them, they give its delineation.

From Project Gutenberg

Such were among the great elegiac poets of Rome, who were generally devoted to the delineation of the passion of love.

From Project Gutenberg

The style is stilted, and there is no attempt at delineation of character.

From Project Gutenberg

After a correct delineation of the character of the deceased, he described the closing scene of his life.

From Project Gutenberg