Outlines

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The visible shape or boundary of an item can be illustrated with defined lines or figures
2. The outermost edges that define the shape of objects ; a brief summary presenting the main points of a topic
3. The curved lines that form the outer boundary of a figure ; a concise outline that highlights key elements of a subject

Etymology: "Outlines" is the plural of "outline," a noun and verb that combines "out" with "line." The "out" here carries its sense of extending beyond or away from a centre, so an outline is a line drawn at the outer edge of something, marking where a shape stops and the space around it begins. The plural simply names several such edges, or several sketches of an edge, as in a drawing or a summary laid out in sections. The verb "outline" grew from the same pairing: to outline something is to trace its boundary or to set out its main features, and the broader sense of a rough plan or summary grew naturally from the idea of a bounding line that shows a thing's overall form.

Synonyms: summaries, sketches, drafts, frameworks, blueprints

Antonyms: details, elaborations, full versions, expansions, narratives