The line that appears to bound an object.

synonym: lineation.

Roget 230: outline, circumference; perimeter, periphery, ambit, circuit, lines tournure^†, contour, profile, silhouette; bounds; coast line.    zone, belt, girth, band, baldric, zodiac, girdle, tyre [Brit.], cingle^†, clasp, girt; cordon etc. (inclosure) 232; circlet, etc. 247.    ... show more

Roget 448: appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration^†, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil [Fr.]; lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau; display, exposure, mise en sc ne [Fr.]; rising of the curtain.    phantasm, phantom etc. (fallacy of vision) 443.    pageant, spectacle; peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show; ombres chinoises [Sp.]; magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views; biograph^†, cinematograph, moving pictures; panorama, diorama, cosmorama^†, georama^†; coup de theatre, jeu de theatre [Fr.]; pageantry etc. (ostentation) 882; insignia etc. (indication) 550.    aspect, angle, phase, phasis^†, seeming; shape etc. (form) 240; guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor; presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing; point of view, light.    lineament feature trait lines; outline, outside; contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz.   , cast of countenance, profile, tournure^†, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy^†; outside etc. 220.    ... show more

Roget 556: painting; depicting; drawing etc. v.; design; perspective, sciagraphy^†, skiagraphy^†; chiaroscuro etc. (light) 420; composition; treatment.    historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting; landscape painting, marine painting; still life, flower painting, scene painting; scenography^†.    school, style; the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture; ornamental art etc. 847.    monochrome, polychrome; grisaille [Fr.].    pallet, palette; easel; brush, pencil, stump; black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel; paint etc. (coloring matter) 428; watercolor, body color, oil color; oils, oil paint; varnish etc. 356.1, priming; gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass; enamel; encaustic painting; mosaic; tapestry.    photography, heliography, color photography; sun painting; graphics, computer graphics.    picture, painting, piece [Fr.], tableau, canvas; oil painting &c.; fresco, cartoon; easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft; pencil drawing &c., water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink; sketch, outline, study.    photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph; daguerreotype, talbotype^†, calotype^†, heliotype^†; negative, positive; print, glossy print, matte print; enlargement, reduction, life-size print; instant photo, Polaroid photo.    technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome; Polaroid.    portrait etc. (representation) 554; whole length, full length, half length; kitcat, head; miniature; shade, silhouette; profile.    landscape, seapiece^†; view, scene, prospect; panorama, diorama; still life.    picture gallery, exhibit; studio, atelier; pinacotheca^†.    ... show more

Dutch: contouren, omtrek

A sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory.

synonyms: abstract, precis, synopsis.

Roget 86: list, catalog, catalogue, inventory; register etc. (record) 551.    account; bill, bill of costs; terrier; tally, listing, itemization; atlas; book, ledger; catalogue raisonne [Fr.]; tableau; invoice, bill of lading; prospectus; bill of fare, menu, carte [Fr.]; score, census, statistics, returns.    [list of topics in a document] contents, table of contents, outline; synopsis.    [written list used as an aid to memory] checklist.    table, chart, database; index, inverted file, word list, concordance.    dictionary, lexicon; vocabulary, glossary; thesaurus.    file, card index, card file, rolodex, address book.    Red book, Blue book, Domesday book; cadastre [Fr.]; directory, gazetter^†.    almanac; army list, clergy list, civil service list, navy list; Almanach de Gotha^†, cadaster; Lloyd's register, nautical almanac; who's who; Guiness's Book of World Records.    roll; check roll, checker roll, bead roll; muster roll, muster book; roster, panel, jury list; cartulary, diptych.    ... show more

Dutch: uittreksel, korte inhoud, abstractie, samenvatting, grondtrek, hoofdlijn
Polish: abstrakt

A schematic or preliminary plan.

synonyms: schema, scheme.

Roget 626: plan, scheme, design, project; proposal, proposition, suggestion; resolution, motion; precaution etc. (provision) 673; deep-laid plan etc. (premeditated) 611; system etc. (order) 58; organization etc. (arrangement) 60; germ etc. (cause) 153.    sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche [Fr.], brouillon [Fr.]; rough cast, rough draft, draught copy; copy; proof, revise.    drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation) 554.    forecast, program, programme, prospectus; carte du pays [Fr.]; card; bill, protocol; order of the day, list of agenda; bill of fare etc. (food) 298; base of operations; platform, plank, slate [U.S.], ticket [U.S.].    role; policy etc. (line of conduct) 692.    contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device; pipelaying [U.S.]; stratagem etc. (cunning) 702; trick etc. (deception) 545; alternative, loophole; shift etc. (substitute) 147; last shift etc. (necessity) 601.    measure, step; stroke, stroke of policy; master stroke; trump card, court card; cheval de bataille [Fr.], great gun; coup, coup d'etat [Fr.]; clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke; bright thought, bright idea.    intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot^†, machination; subplot, underplot^†, counterplot.    schemer, schemist^†, schematist^†; strategist, machinator; projector, artist, promoter, designer etc. v.; conspirator; intrigant etc. (cunning) 702^†.    ... show more

Roget 554: representation, representment^†; imitation etc. 19; illustration, delineation, depictment^†; imagery, portraiture, iconography; design, designing; art, fine arts; painting etc. 556; sculpture etc. 557; engraving etc. 558; photography, cinematography; radiography, autoradiography [Bioch.], fluorography [Chem], sciagraphy^†.    personation, personification; impersonation; drama etc. 599.    picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot; X-ray photo; movie film, movie; tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV.    copy etc. 21; drawing, sketch, drought, draft; plot, chart, figure, scheme.    image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness; very image; effigy, facsimile.    figure, figure head; puppet, doll, figurine, aglet^†, manikin, lay-figure, model, mammet^†, marionette, fantoccini^†, waxwork, bust; statue, statuette.    ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji [Jap.]; diagram, monogram.    map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan) 626.    ichnography^†, cartography; atlas; outline, scheme; view etc. (painting) 556; radiograph, scotograph^†, sciagraph^†; spectrogram, heliogram^†.    ... show more

Polish: szkic, schemat, plan, rzut, zarys, projekt

Describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of:
— Sketch the outline of the book.
— Outline his ideas.

synonyms: adumbrate, sketch.

Draw up an outline or sketch for something.

synonym: draft.

Trace the shape of.

synonyms: delineate, limn.