delineation

noun

de·​lin·​ea·​tion di-ˌli-nē-ˈā-shən 

dē-

1

: the act of outlining or representing something with lines or words : the act of delineating

the delineation of a scene

… the delineation of the territories allotted to the seven tribes of Israel …

—Adam Nicholson

2

: something made by delineating

a photographic delineation of low life

—T. S. Eliot

delineative

di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-tiv 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms

• cartoon
• drawing
• sketch

Examples of delineation in a Sentence

his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes

a finely wrought delineation of a young woman's first experience with romantic love

Recent Examples on the Web

But for the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox or Blue Jays, a Soto signing wouldn’t be a franchise-altering moment that serves as a clear line of delineation between the before and after times. —Jerry Beach, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Throughout most of the Terminator franchise, there’s a clear delineation between the dystopian future settings and the peaceful normalcy of the present day. —Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024

In this delineation option, Pflugerville is included within this area. —Isabela Ocampo Restrepo, Austin American-Statesman, 11 July 2024

Both lead performers are superb, especially in their skillful delineation of the ways in which their characters have changed or not in the five-year interval. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dēlīneātiōn-, dēlīneātiō "description," from Latin dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of, delineate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1