outline
outline — noun
1. the outside line of a person, object, or place, seen without the inside parts.
the outside line of a person, object, or place, seen without the inside parts.
At sunset, the temple's outline stood dark against the orange sky.
outline against a background
From the hill, we could see the outline of the whole island.
Only the outline of the cat showed behind the curtain.
A thin gold line marked the outline of the heart on screen.
- shape
broader and less exact; does not focus on the edge alone
- contour
more technical, often used for lines of land or body form
- silhouette
usually a dark shape seen against light, not just the edge
- detail
refers to the inner parts rather than the outer line
文法句型
outline of + noun
用法筆記
Often used for something seen from far away, in shadow, or against strong light. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is the edge itself, not a picture of it.
2. a short account or plan that gives the key points but not the full detail.
a short account or plan that gives the key points but not the full detail.
Before the meeting, Grace sent an outline of her report by email.
outline of a report
The guide gave us a brief outline of the museum's history.
On one slide, the coach showed an outline of the training plan.
Their lawyer prepared an outline of the case before trial.
- full account
gives complete detail instead of only key points
文法句型
outline of + topic/report/plan
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' plus a topic, talk, plan, or report. Distinguish from verb/2: this sense names the summary itself, while verb/2 is the act of giving one.
常見錯誤
3. a simple drawing that shows only the outer lines, with no shading or small detai
a simple drawing that shows only the outer lines, with no shading or small details.
The art teacher pinned an outline of a fish on the wall.
art use: simple picture
Lena colored inside the outline of the butterfly with blue paint.
inside the outline
The book has simple outlines for children to cut out.
In art class, Noah traced the outline of a castle in pencil.
- sketch
broader; may include more detail than just outer lines
- line drawing
close in meaning and common in art contexts
- tracing
usually copied from another image by following its lines
- painting
usually includes color, tone, and fuller visual detail
文法句型
outline of + object
用法筆記
Usually used for a picture on paper or a screen before color or detail is added. Distinguish from sense 1: here the outline is a drawing, not the real edge of something you see.
outline — verb
1. to present the main facts, ideas, or stages of something in a short form.
to present the main facts, ideas, or stages of something in a short form.
At the start, the chair outlined the goals for this month's project.
outline + the goals
The leaflet outlines how to stay safe during a summer storm.
outline + wh-clause
Before lunch, Dr. Chen outlined the steps in the operation.
On the whiteboard, Sara outlined her idea in three short points.
The email clearly outlined what parents needed to bring.
- elaborate
to add more and more detail instead of keeping to the main points
文法句型
outline + noun phrase
outline + wh-clause
用法筆記
Object is usually a plan, report, method, problem, or set of steps. Often followed by a wh-clause such as 'outline how...' or 'outline what...'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense gives information, not shape.
常見錯誤
2. to draw or show the outer line of something so its shape can be seen clearly.
to draw or show the outer line of something so its shape can be seen clearly.
Mina outlined the leaves in black pen before adding color.
outline + object
The map outlines the lake with a bright blue line.
A white lamp outlined the baby's face in the dark room.
First, draw the tree trunk, then outline each branch lightly.
The designer outlined the window shape on thick cardboard.
- fill in
adds color or detail inside a shape instead of just the edge
文法句型
outline + noun phrase
用法筆記
Object is usually something visible and concrete, such as a face, leaf, or shape. This sense can mean either drawing the edge or making it stand out with light or color.