(outlines, outlining, outlined)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you outline an idea or a plan, you explain it in a general way.
The mayor outlined his plan to clean up the town's image...
VERB: V n
2.
An outline is a general explanation or description of something.
Following is an outline of the survey findings...
The proposals were given in outline by the Secretary of State.
N-COUNT: also in N
3.
You say that an object is outlined when you can see its general shape because there is light behind it.
The Ritz was outlined against the lights up there...
V-PASSIVE: be V-ed
4.
The outline of something is its general shape, especially when it cannot be clearly seen.
He could see only the hazy outline of the goalposts.
N-COUNT: usu N of n