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delineate

[ dih-lin-ee-eyt ]
/ dɪˈlɪn iˌeɪt /
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See synonyms for: delineate / delineated / delineating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·lin·e·at·ed, de·lin·e·at·ing.
to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline; represent pictorially: He delineated the state of Texas on the map with a red pencil.
to portray in words; describe or outline with precision: In her speech she delineated the city plan with great care.
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Origin of delineate

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin dēlīneātus, equivalent to dē- de- + līneātus lineate

OTHER WORDS FROM delineate

de·lin·e·a·ble [dih-lin-ee-uh-buhl], /dɪˈlɪn i ə bəl/, adjectivepre·de·lin·e·ate, verb (used with object), pre·de·lin·e·at·ed, pre·de·lin·e·at·ing.un·de·lin·e·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use delineate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for delineate

delineate
/ (dɪˈlɪnɪˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)
to trace the shape or outline of; sketch
to represent pictorially, as by making a chart or diagram; depict
to portray in words, esp with detail and precision; describe

Derived forms of delineate

delineable, adjectivedelineation, noundelineative, adjective

Word Origin for delineate

C16: from Latin dēlīneāre to sketch out, from līnea line 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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