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Definition of outline noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

outline

noun
 
/ˈaʊtlaɪn/
 
/ˈaʊtlaɪn/
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. a description of the main facts or points involved in something
    • outline of something This is a brief outline of the events.
    • The broad outlines of Marley's life are relatively well known.
    • You should draw up a plan or outline for the essay.
    • You need a written outline of the story.
    • in outline The book describes in outline the main findings of the research.
    • an outline agreement/proposal/plan
    Extra Examples
    • Here's the plan in outline.
    • The government proposed the outlines of a new tax.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • bare
    • basic
    • brief
    verb + outline
    • give (somebody)
    • provide (somebody with)
    • write
    preposition
    • in outline
    • outline for
    • outline of
    See full entry
  2. the line that goes around the edge of something, showing its main shape but not the details
    • outline of something At last we could see the dim outline of an island.
    • I traced the outline of his face with my finger.
    • an outline map/sketch
    • in outline She drew the figures in outline.
    • All four islands are more or less oval in outline.
    Extra Examples
    • The children made an outline of their hands.
    • to cut around the outline
    • The students added the position of the main cities to an outline map of the country.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • clear
    • sharp
    • dim
    verb + outline
    • draw
    • make
    • trace
    outline + noun
    • drawing
    • map
    preposition
    • around the outline
    • round the outline
    • in outline
    See full entry
See outline in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee outline in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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