outline

[out-lahyn]

noun

1. the line by which a figure or object is defined or bounded; contour.

2. a drawing or sketch restricted to line without shading or modeling of form.

3. 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.

   Synonyms: summary, synopsis, rough, draft, plan

4. outlines, the essential features or main aspects of something under discussion.

   At the first meeting, we gave her only the outlines of the project.

5. Printing.,  an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white.

verb (used with object)

outlined, outlining 

1. to draw the outline of, or draw in outline, as a figure or object.

   Synonyms: draft, delineate

2. to give an outline of; sketch the main features of.

   On the first day, the professor just outlined the course for us.

   Synonyms: draft, delineate

outline

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a preliminary or schematic plan, draft, account, etc

2. (usually plural) the important features of an argument, theory, work, etc

3. the line by which an object or figure is or appears to be bounded

4. 1. a drawing or manner of drawing consisting only of external lines

   2. ( as modifier )

      an outline map

verb

1. to draw or display the outline of

2. to give the main features or general idea of

Other Word Forms

• preoutline noun
• reoutline verb (used with object)
• well-outlined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of outline¹

First recorded in 1655–65; out- + line ¹

Synonym Study

See form.

Example Sentences

He became so concerned about Plumb's posts - outlining his "ultimate fantasy" of violence against Ms Willoughby - that he passed information to the FBI.

Read more on BBC

He outlined plans to overhaul the U.S. nuclear regulator, fast-track licenses for new projects, boost domestic fuel supplies and use federal lands for reactors for the military, or for large data centers for artificial intelligence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Three months before the defeat of the Nazis in 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin met at Yalta and outlined plans for a postwar Germany and a new global order.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Research described in ACS Engineering Au outlines a way to preserve the powerful compounds extracted from beet leaves for use in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Read more on Science Daily

The Scottish Secretary, who replaced Ian Murray last month, was also questioned about whether he had a "duty to the electorate" to outline what would happen in the event of an SNP majority.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blueprint 
• draft 
• drawing 
• framework 
• summary 
• synopsis