# delineate

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈlɪniːeɪt/ · frequency rank #49,285

## Definitions
1. To sketch out, draw or trace an outline.
2. To depict, represent with pictures.
3. To describe or depict with words or gestures.
4. To outline or mark out.

## Etymology
First attested in 1559; borrowed from Latin dēlīneātus, perfect passive participle of dēlīneo (“to sketch out, to delineate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from dē- + līnea (“line”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

## Easily confused with
- **delicate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-delineate)
- **deliberate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deliberate-vs-delineate)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddelineate`, `deilneate`, `delienate`, `delinaete`, `delineaet`, `delineatte`, `delinetae`, `delinneate`, `dellineate`, `delnieate`, `dleineate`, `edlineate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/delineate