delineated

adjective

de·​lin·​eat·​ed di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-təd 

dē-

1

a

: having or forming clear edges or boundaries

Deserts are wildly heterogeneous, composed of numerous, disparate, sharply delineated microenvironments.

—Bil Gilbert

These tumors tend to be invasive and extend beyond delineated margins.

—Dennis P. O'Brien and Joan R. Coates

b

: marked with drawn or painted lines

delineated bike lanes

the delineated areas of the map

2

: described or portrayed with accuracy or in detail

… the military, with its clearly delineated roles, ranks, chains of command, and reservations of authority.

—Eric J. McNulty

Synonyms

• graphic
• graphical
• pictorial
• picturesque
• visual
• vivid

Examples of delineated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wines are aged in 80 large wooden casks, each holding vino from a single delineated plot of land. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024

Ultimately, the characters’ motivations, like their titular instinct, are weakly delineated, but viewers are well-advised not to worry their pretty little heads about any of that and just concentrate on the pantsuits. —Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024

Moraga’s financing plan would be reasonable if there was a clear spending plan for the money with delineated priorities. —East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024

The ironing board’s cover has three clearly delineated zones but is smooth throughout. —Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2024

Along with the preternaturally glowy skin (a mind-boggling synthetic effect that McGrath is revealing in a clever rollout), the Margiela Bratz came correct with washes of blue and green shadow, thin delineated brows, and high-gloss lips touched in metallics. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2024

College football provides that clearly delineated schedule, not unlike a calendar of holidays—and of course, fandom. —Jane Borden, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2023

By various measures, Justice and family own over a hundred delineated businesses, all of them run by a tight circle of family members and long-term associates with almost no real public-facing presence. —Andrew Donaldson, Washington Examiner, 5 May 2023

Truthfully, the mere existence of a delineated digital asset regime would likely push traditional financial firms to move their assets and take advantage of lighter regulations. —Dylan Gyauch-Lewis, The New Republic, 23 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 2