[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/outline/)

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# outline

noun (an outline, outlines); verb (outline, outlines, outlined, outlining)

«outline» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An outline is a line that shows the shape or edge of something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#m1)
2. An outline is a short plan that gives the main points, not all the details. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#m2)
3. To outline something is to draw its edge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#m3)
4. To outline a plan or story is to explain its main points. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#m4)

### In the lessons

In art, pupils draw the outline first and then colour in. In English, they write an outline (plan) before an essay or story. In maths, the outline of a shape is its perimeter. Phrases: "in outline", "rough outline", "outline the main points".

### Examples

- Draw the outline of the leaf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x1)
- We saw the outline of the hills in the dark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x2)
- Write an outline before your story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x3)
- The teacher outlined the plan for the trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x4)
- Trace the outline of your hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x5)
- Here's a brief outline of the book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x6)
- Again he gave me an outline for a sketch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/#x7)

### Note

Countable noun. Verb regular: outlined, outlining. The distance round the outline of a shape is its perimeter.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «outline» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outline/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«outline» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/outline.html) on Mova free.