delineate

verb de·lin·eate \ di-ˈli-nē-ˌāt , dē- \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: delineate in a Sentence

Definition of delineate

delineated; delineating

transitive verb

1 : to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail

delineate a character in the story

delineate the steps to be taken by the government

2 a : to indicate or represent by drawn or painted lines

b : to mark the outline of

lights delineating the narrow streets

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delineator

play \di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-tər, dē-\ noun

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Examples of delineate in a Sentence

He plants his skates millimeters outside the blue-tinted 44-square-foot arena that delineates the crease and refuses to budge … —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 21 May 2007
Screenwriter Christopher Hampton introduces a large gallery of characters, subtly delineating the unspoken class biases that will keep Robbie, for all his confidence, charm and Cambridge education, an outsider. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2007
So Madrid finally ordered Onís to cut the best deal he could. The resulting Transcontinental (or Adams-Onís) Treaty of 1819 ceded Florida to the United States and delineated the boundary between American and Spanish territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean … —Walter A. McDougall, Promised Land, Crusader State, 1997
Privacy plays a unique role in American law. Although considered a core value by most citizens, it is not explicitly delineated as a protected right by the U.S. Constitution. —Edward A. Cavazos et al., Cyberspace and the Law, 1994
The report clearly delineates the steps that must be taken.
The characters in the story were carefully delineated.

Recent Examples of delineate from the Web

These included integrating clinical inquiry in the nursing culture as well as delineating tactics for appraising evidence.

— valerie sweeten, Houston Chronicle, "INSPIRE symposium offers RN insight, engagement," 10 June 2018
Fears of a possible exit strategy were stoked when an early draft of the government’s policy agenda leaked, showing plans to delineate rules to leave the euro and for the European Central Bank to cancel 250 million euros in debt.

— Washington Post, "Italy populists win Senate confidence vote, put EU on notice," 5 June 2018
The road also delineates the county's Urban Services Boundary line.

— tony bizjak, sacbee, "Environmentalists sue to stop expansion near Highway 99," 5 June 2018
Also approved was a regulating master plan delineating a street plan, including the extension of New Street, Weeks Street and Freeman Street.

— bill banks, ajc, "Rezoning lays the groundwork for future development in east Decatur," 30 May 2018
Sure, there have been some attempts to delineate best practices, and certain approaches to storytelling, such as those that seem to normalize neo-Naziism, have come under harsh criticism.

— miranda katz, WIRED, "How the Media Helped Legitimize Extremism," 25 May 2018
Another draw is the city’s civic culture, delineated in ten important principles founded on utopian ideals of generosity, inclusion and complete freedom of self-expression.

— sam spengler, Smithsonian, "How One Museum Curator Is Bringing Burning Man Out of the Desert," 30 Mar. 2018
Once completed, the bike lanes will hug the curb, delineated by bollards placed every 20 feet or so.

— john gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "New protected bike lanes on East Jefferson will be test for Detroit," 17 May 2018
Before then, an occasional fence delineated sections along the 1,989 miles of international border.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "'Border Door' provided a poetic welcome to immigrants 30 years ago. An art show brings back its message," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delineate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.