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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Delineation

Delineation \De*lin`e*a"tion\, n. [L. delineatio: cf. F. d['e]lin['e]ation.]

  1. The act of representing, portraying, or describing, as by lines, diagrams, sketches, etc.; drawing an outline; as, the delineation of a scene or face; in drawing and engraving, representation by means of lines, as distinguished from representation by means of tints and shades; accurate and minute representation, as distinguished from art that is careless of details, or subordinates them excessively.

  2. A delineated picture; representation; sketch; description in words.

    Their softest delineations of female beauty.
    --W. Irving.

    Syn: Sketch; portrait; outline. See Sketch.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
delineation

1560s, native formation from delineate, or else from Latin delineationem (nominative delineatio) "sketch, description," noun of action from past participle stem of delineare (see delineate).

Wiktionary
delineation

n. 1 The act of delineate; depiction. 2 (context arts English) An image of the outline of an object. 3 A graphic verbal description.

WordNet
delineation
  1. n. a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture of life in Poland"; "the pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters" [syn: word picture, word-painting, depiction, picture, characterization, characterisation]

  2. a drawing of the outlines of forms or objects [syn: depiction, limning, line drawing]

  3. representation by drawing or painting etc [syn: depiction, portrayal]

Usage examples of "delineation".

The earliest known maps of the mediaeval epoch present the appearance of rough delineations of land and water, a corrupted nomenclature, and no reference whatsoever to degrees of longitude or latitude.

In its delineation of the pompous doings of the mastersingers, Wagner is true to the letter.

The delineation of the Australian continent, which is joined to the Antarctic lands, is taken from the preceding Mercator type of map.

She had muted her skin-tone now, so that the stripes were little more than rushlike grey blades folded around the contours of her face, delineations that vanished altogether in a certain light.

But quitting all these unprofessional attempts, let us glance at those pictures of leviathan purporting to be sober, scientific delineations, by those who know.

My smile lacked her radiance, but she probably knew what daily unit delineations were.

The preceding delineation or definition of Personal Merit must still retain its evidence and authority: it must still be allowed that every quality of the mind, which is USEFUL or AGREEABLE to the PERSON HIMSELF or to OTHERS, communicates a pleasure to the spectator, engages his esteem, and is admitted under the honourable denomination of virtue or merit.

The images and datasheets on the old television tubes vanished, replaced by metre-high green letters which moved right to left across the wall, delineation frequently interrupted by the individual screen rims.

Trees planted so close together they formed deep green walls, nearly black, just the faintest delineation of branch and leaf.

In some instances, to the quick, observant eye, those linear marks, as in a veritable engraving, but afford the ground for far other delineations.