outline

n. the line or shape that shows the edge of an object.

n. the line marking the outer boundary or contour of an object or figure.

“In the fog, we could only see the dark outline of the mountains.”

“The artist used charcoal to trace the rough outline of the model before adding any internal detail or shading.”

n. a short description of the main points of a plan, book, or speech.

n. a structured summary or preliminary plan that highlights the essential features or main points of a subject.

“The teacher asked us to write an outline before we started our essays.”

“The project manager presented a broad outline of the new strategy, leaving the specific technical requirements for a later discussion.”

n. a written version of a story used to plan a movie script.

n. a prose narrative of a story intended for development into a screenplay, typically more detailed than a treatment.

“The writer sent a ten-page outline to the studio to see if they liked the plot.”

“After the initial pitch was accepted, the screenwriter spent three weeks refining the outline to ensure the pacing of the second act was effective.”

Technical

v. to give a short description of the most important parts of something.

v. to provide a summary of the principal aspects or features of a plan or theory.

“The director will outline the new safety rules at the meeting tomorrow.”

“The report outlines several key areas where the company can improve its environmental impact over the next decade.”

v. to draw the outer edge or shape of something.

v. to draw or trace the outer edge or contour of a physical object.

“She used a black pen to outline the stars she had drawn.”

“The architect carefully outlined the footprint of the building on the site map to show how it would fit between the existing trees.”