Word: delineate (verb)

Associations

"Delineate" means to describe or show something clearly and in detail. It is often used when you want to explain or draw the exact shape or outline of something.

• In a report, you might delineate the steps of a process. This means you explain each step clearly.
• An artist can delineate a figure by drawing its outline carefully.
• A teacher might delineate the differences between two ideas, meaning they explain those differences clearly.

A similar word is "describe," but "delineate" usually means a more precise or detailed explanation or drawing. "Describe" can be more general.

Substitution

You can replace "delineate" with:

• "outline" (to give the main points or shape)
• "describe" (to explain in words)
• "depict" (to show something, often in pictures)

For example, "The report delineates the plan" could also be "The report outlines the plan." However, "outline" is less detailed than "delineate."

Deconstruction

The word "delineate" comes from Latin:

• "de-" means "completely" or "thoroughly"
• "linea" means "line"
• The suffix "-ate" turns it into a verb.
  So, "delineate" literally means "to draw lines completely," which helps us remember it means to show or describe something clearly.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had to delineate your ideas to someone? How did you explain them?
• How might an architect delineate a building plan differently than a writer delineates a story?
• When you describe a place, do you just give a general idea, or do you try to delineate it with many details? Why?