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Contour vs Outline - What's the difference?

contour | outline |

As nouns the difference between contour and outline

is that contour is an outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape while outline is a line marking the boundary of an object figure.

As a verb outline is

to draw an outline of something.

contour

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved shape.
    • The low drag contour of a modern automobile.
  • A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth.
  • (linguistics) a speech sound which behaves as a single segment, but which makes an internal transition from one quality, place, or manner to another.

    • Hyponyms

    * (speech sound) diphthong, contour tone, affricate

    See also

    *

    Anagrams

    *

    outline

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A line marking the boundary of an object figure.
  • The outer shape of an object or figure.
  • A sketch or drawing in which objects are delineated in contours without shading.
  • * Dryden
    • Painters, by their outlines , colours, lights, and shadows, represent the same in their pictures.
  • A general description of some subject.
  • A statement summarizing the important points of a text.
  • A preliminary plan for a project.
    • the outline of a speech
  • (film industry) A prose telling of a story intended to be turned into a screenplay; generally longer and more detailed than a treatment.

    • See also

    * silhouette

    Verb

    (outlin)
  • (lb) To draw an outline of something.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.}}
  • (lb) To summarize something.
  • :
  • *
  • *:At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy?; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

    • Anagrams

    * *