Definition of 'outline'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense outlines
, present participle outlining
, past tense, past participle outlined
3. passive verb
4. countable noun
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
outline
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
outline in British English
noun
1.
verb (transitive)
6.
to give the main features or general idea of
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
outline in American English
noun
4.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈoutˌlined or ˈoutˌlining
5.
to draw a profile of; draw in outline
6.
to give or write an outline, or the main points, of
SIMILAR WORDS: form
SYNONYMY NOTE: outline is used of the line bounding the limits of an object [the sketch shows only the outline of the skyscrapers]; contour, specifically applied to the configuration of a land mass, in extension stresses
the shape of an object or mass as determined by its outline [the soft contour of her waist]; profile is used of the outline or contour of the face in a side view or of the outline of
any object as it is seen against a background [the profile of the trees against the sky]; silhouette applies to a profile portrait, esp. of the head and usually in solid black, or it
may be used of any dark shape seen against a light background [the silhouette of a house against the moonlight]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
outliner (ˈoutˌliner)
noun
Word Frequency
outline in American English
(ˈautˌlain) (verb -lined, -lining)
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
4. See outlines
5. Printing
an ornamented type in which the outside contours of each character appear in black, with the inside left white
transitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. See form. 3. plan, draft, rough, synopsis, summary. 6, 7. delineate, draft.6.
to draw the outline of, or draw in outline, as a figure or object
7.
to give an outline of; sketch the main features of
On the first day, the professor just outlined the course for us
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1655–65; out- + line1]Examples of 'outline' in a sentence
outline
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
outline
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
outline
British English: outline
/ˈaʊtˌlaɪn/ NOUN
An outline is a general explanation or description of something.
Following is an outline of the survey findings.
- American English: outline /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
- Arabic: تَلْخِيصٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: esboço
- Chinese: 大纲
- Croatian: obris
- Czech: nástin
- Danish: skitse
- Dutch: schets
- European Spanish: descripción general
- Finnish: yleiskuva
- French: aperçu
- German: Umriss
- Greek: περίγραμμα
- Italian: profilo
- Japanese: 概要
- Korean: 개요
- Norwegian: omriss
- Polish: zarys
- European Portuguese: esboço
- Romanian: rezumat
- Russian: план
- Latin American Spanish: contorno
- Swedish: sammanfattning
- Thai: คำอธิบายอย่างคร่าวๆ
- Turkish: özet
- Ukrainian: схема
- Vietnamese: đề cương
British English: outline
VERB /ˈaʊtˌlaɪn/
If you outline an idea or a plan, you explain it in a general way.
The mayor outlined his plan to clean up the town's image.
Browse alphabetically
outline
Related terms of
outline
Source
Definition of outline from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
pedal
or
peddle?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
peddle
pedal
He attempted to his paintings around small London galleries.
vane
or
vein
or
vain?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
vain
vane
vein
I was singing in a effort to cheer him up.
waist
or
waste?
Which version is correct?
bloc
or
block?
Which version is correct?
tide
or
tied?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
salad days
a period of youth and inexperience
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
BIRDS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
eagle
pelican
stork
heron
BIRDS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
finch
penguin
stork
puffin
BIRDS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
pheasant
puffin
buzzard
barn owl
Your score:
Learrning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Learning English: Making a phone call
Ease your nerves with these helpful phrases for English phone calls. From introductions to inquiries, master effective communication.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more