outline
/'autlain/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A schematic or preliminary plan: A general plan showing the main features or structure of something before the details are filled in.
- A sketchy summary: A brief description of the main points or facts of a subject, argument, or theory.
- The line that appears to bound an object: The outer edge or contour of a shape or figure, often seen as a line separating it from its background.
Verb:
- To trace the shape of: To draw, define, or indicate the outer edge or contour of something.
- To draw up an outline for something: To plan or describe the main features or structure of something, such as a speech, essay, or project.
- To describe roughly or give the main points: To summarize the most important aspects of an idea, plan, or topic without going into detail.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- She presented an outline of the proposed budget to the committee.
- The report began with a brief outline of the company's history.
- We could see the dark outline of the castle against the sunset.
Verb:
- The artist outlined the figure in charcoal before painting.
- Before writing the essay, he outlined his main arguments.
- The manager outlined the new safety procedures for the staff.
Advanced Usage
"In outline": Describing something in its basic or general form, without details.
- The project is clear in outline, but the specifics still need work.
"To give a broad outline": To provide a very general summary, covering only the major points.
- The lecture gave a broad outline of economic theories from the 20th century.
Variants and Related Words
Outlined (adj.): Described or shown clearly with its main features.
- The outlined steps are easy to follow.
Outlining (n./gerund): The act or process of creating an outline.
- Outlining is a crucial part of the writing process.
Synonyms
- Noun: Summary, synopsis, sketch, plan, framework, contour, silhouette.
- Verb: Summarize, sketch, draft, delineate, trace, summarize.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(The word "outline" does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed as a single verb.)
Related Idioms
- The bare outline: The most basic and essential points, with nothing extra.
- He gave us only the bare outline of the story, leaving out all the interesting details.
Noun
- a schematic or preliminary plan
- a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
- the line that appears to bound an object
Verb
- trace the shape of
- draw up an outline or sketch for something
- draft a speech
- describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
- sketch the outline of the book
- outline his ideas