outlining
outlining — verb
- outliningpresent simple I / you / we / they
- outlinings3rd person singular
- outlininging-ing form
- outliningedpast simple
1. to draw the outer edge or shape of something, showing its form without filling i
to draw the outer edge or shape of something, showing its form without filling in internal details.
The art teacher asked the class to begin by outlining the vase on their paper.
outline + object showing what is drawn
Before adding colour, the illustrator outlined the character's face with a black pen.
outline + object + 'with [tool]'
Using a light pencil, the designer outlined the shape of the building on the blueprint.
The children outlined their hands on coloured paper to make cards for their parents.
The architect carefully outlined the floor plan before adding any interior walls.
文法句型
outline + object
常見錯誤
2. to describe the most important points or features of an idea, plan, document, or
to describe the most important points or features of an idea, plan, document, or situation, without giving every detail.
The team leader outlined the project schedule during the morning meeting.
outline + object (project schedule)
In her opening speech, the director outlined three main goals for the coming year.
outline + quantity (three main goals)
The professor outlined the key arguments of the theory in the very first lecture.
Before the hike, the guide outlined the safety rules that everyone needed to follow.
A report last week outlined the reasons for the drop in sales across the region.
- elaborate
to add more detail, the opposite of summarising key points
文法句型
outline + object
it is outlined that + clause
常見錯誤
outlining — noun
1. the border around something that shows only its general shape, with no details i
the border around something that shows only its general shape, with no details inside.
The outline of the mountain was clearly visible against the evening sky.
the outline of + [noun]
The artist drew the outline of the sleeping cat in quick pencil strokes.
Through the thick fog, the outline of the old lighthouse slowly appeared.
Lin could only see the dark outline of the trees against the night sky.
The outline of a key was traced on paper so the locksmith could copy it.
- silhouette
specifically a dark shape against a lighter background, often referring to the whole form rather than just the edge line
- contour
more technical; often used for maps, bodies, or three-dimensional surfaces
- profile
side view of a face or object, not the full outer edge
文法句型
the outline of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always used with 'the', 'an', or a possessive determiner, and the object whose edge is described appears in a following 'of'-phrase.
2. a short description that gives only the most important facts or ideas about a to
a short description that gives only the most important facts or ideas about a topic, book, plan, or event, without smaller details.
The student wrote a short outline of the chapter before the exam.
a + adjective + outline of + [topic]
The sales director asked for a one-page outline of the proposal before the meeting.
an outline of + [document]
The newspaper published a brief outline of the government's new education policy.
Reading the outline of the story helped the students understand the main characters.
The marketing plan outline showed how the company would enter three new markets in Asia.
- full account
a complete, detailed report rather than a summary
文法句型
an outline of + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (PRELIMINARY PLAN): a 'summary' outline describes something that already exists (a book, a speech, a policy), whereas a 'preliminary plan' outline is created before the full work begins.
常見錯誤
3. a first rough version of a plan, design, or written piece that shows the main st
a first rough version of a plan, design, or written piece that shows the main structure and will be developed with more detail later.
The design team submitted an outline of the new website layout to the client.
an outline of + [project] (preliminary version)
The teacher asked for an outline of the science project before the final report.
The committee approved the outline of the festival programme at the first meeting.
The architect presented a rough outline of the house design to the clients.
The outline for the documentary included interviews with four experts about the topic.
文法句型
an outline of + noun
an outline for + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2 (SUMMARY), this sense refers to work that is still in progress. You create a plan outline before you write the full document or build the full project.