1. The line that appears to bound an object
   "The artist sketched the outline of the mountain range";
   - lineation
    
2. A sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
   "The researcher prepared an outline of her findings for the conference";
   - synopsis, abstract, précis, rundown
    
3. A schematic or preliminary plan
   "The architect presented an outline of the building project to the clients";
   - schema, scheme

1. Describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
   "sketch the outline of the book"; "outline his ideas";
   - sketch, adumbrate
    
2. Draw up an outline or sketch for something
   "outline a speech";
   - draft
    
3. Trace the shape of
   "She outlined the continent on the map";
   - delineate, limn

Derived forms: outlining, outlines, outlined

Type of: bound, boundary, bounds, compose, depict, describe, draw, indite [archaic], pen, plan, program [N. Amer], programme [Brit, Cdn], summary, sum-up, wrap-up, write

Encyclopedia: Outline