delineare

Delineare is an Italian verb of the first conjugation that means to delineate in both a literal and a figurative sense: to draw the outline of something, to describe or define in detail, or to outline the main features of a subject. The term is commonly used in contexts ranging from drafting and cartography to analysis and policy making.

Etymology: Delineare derives from Latin delineare, formed from the root linea, meaning line, with a prefixal development that conveys drawing or outlining. The word was inherited into Italian with a meaning closely tied to drawing a clear outline or boundary.

Usage and nuance: In everyday Italian, delineare is mainly transitive, taking a direct object such as a figure, contour, or plan. It can describe both physical outlines—delineare una figura geometrica, i contorni di un oggetto—and conceptual outlines, such as delineare una strategia, un progetto, or i requisiti di una normativa. In its figurative use, delineare emphasizes clarity and precision in presentation or description. It is related to but distinct from delimitare, which more strongly conveys setting formal boundaries or limits.

Examples: The architect delinea il profilo della facciata; il rapporto delinea i punti chiave della proposta; la tavola grafica delinea i contorni della regione.

See also: Delimitare, Outline, Delineation, Italian verbs of the -are conjugation.

Notes: Delineare is a standard term across technical and rhetorical registers, preserving the sense of careful outlining without implying enforcement of boundaries as strongly as delimitare.