1
general::
noun line that shows the shape/outside edge of sb/sth ADJ. clear, sharp The sharp outline of the island had become blurred. | blurred, dim, faint, vague | simple VERB + OUTLINE draw, make, trace The children made an outline of their hands. | make out, see I could just make out the dim outlines of the house in the mist. | soften OUTLINE + NOUN drawing, map PREP. around/round the ~ to cut round the outline | in ~ He sketched the street in outline only. | ~ of most important facts/ideas about sth ADJ. bare, basic, brief, rough a brief outline of Polish history | broad, general | course VERB + OUTLINE give (sb), provide (sb with), write (sb) Write an outline for your essay. PREP. in ~ Here's the plan in outline. | ~ for, ~ of, verb ADV. briefly | clearly | roughly He roughly outlined the plot of the opera. | here | above, earlier, previously using the plan outlined above | below VERB + OUTLINE attempt to, seek to, try to PREP. to the policies outlined to Parliament on May 20th
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
outline
adjectives
a broad/general outline
(= the main ideas or parts of something rather than all the details )
• The report gives only a broad outline of the company's performance.
a brief outline
• Each chapter begins with a brief outline of the topics covered in the chapter.
a basic outline
• I remembered the basic outline of the story, but not how it ended.
a rough outline
(= one that has no details and that might change )
• Thompson gave me a rough outline of what had happened at the previous meeting.
the bare outline
(= one with no details at all )
• The paragraph gives readers only the bare outline of Milton's life.
give somebody an outline
• The leaflet gives you an outline of the Party's main policies.
provide an outline
• The first chapter provides an outline of the theory of evolution.
a vague/dim outline
(= difficult to see )
• I could just make out a vague outline of a barn.
a blurred outline
(= unclear )
• Through the spaces between the bars he saw the blurred outline of the oil derrick high in the sky.
a clear/sharp outline
• Peeling off the tape after the paint has dried leaves a clear outline to the shapes.
verbs
draw an outline
• First, I draw out the outline of the leaf onto paper, and start adding areas of colour.
trace an outline
(= draw the outline of something, usually with your finger or toe )
• She traced the outline of his lips with her fingers.
outline + NOUN
an outline map
• an outline map of the island
an outline drawing/sketch
• Once I am happy with the outline sketch, I start painting.
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