What does delineate mean?
Word: Delineate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Delineate means to show exactly what something is or where it lies, in words or by drawing.
Synonyms: define
How do you spell delineate?
Syllables: de - lin - e - ate
Tricky part: Four beats are spoken, but pupils often drop the e after the n and write delinate, which leaves only three.
Watch out for: delinate, delinnate
Memory tip: Clap the four beats as you write it, and let that third clap stand for the lone e before the ate.
Delineate in a sentence
Example 1: The first chapter delineates the duties of a class monitor.
Example 2: Use a red pen to delineate the coastline of Gujarat on your map.
Example 3: Our coach delineated each player's position on the whiteboard.
Fun Fact
The Latin source means to trace out in lines, so the word began with sketching before it moved on to describing things in words.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word delineated as used in the sentence:
In a short talk, the head girl delineated the new plan for the library.
a) delayed
b) outlined
c) doubted
d) denied
Show answer
b) outlined. To outline a plan is to set out its main points, as she did in her talk.
Word Cookie
One letter in this word is not needed. Find it:
dellineate
a) n
b) d
c) l
d) t
Show answer
c) l. Only one l comes after the first vowel.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
The new club rules eaitlneed what each member must do on match days.
a) dedicate
b) delegate
c) deliberate
d) delineate
Show answer
d) delineate. The nine letters hold three e's and no b, g or c.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. meridian 2. boundry 3. delineate 4. latitude
a) a line that marks the edge of an area
b) distance north or south of the equator
c) to mark out or set out precisely
d) an imaginary line joining the North and South Poles
Show answer
a) a line that marks the edge of an area. Boundary has an a between the d and the r.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which instruction in a geography test is the closest match?
a) Mark the exact course of the Nile.
b) Guess the population of Cairo.
c) Name your favourite river.
d) Say which country you would visit.
Show answer
a) Mark the exact course of the Nile.
2. A report that fails to do this for each team's duties will probably cause:
a) louder staff meetings
b) confusion over who does what
c) a shortage of printing paper
d) longer school holidays
Show answer
b) confusion over who does what
