Sketch

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Sketch, n. [D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.].

 An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design.

Sketch, v. t. [Cf D. schetsen, It. schizzare. See Sketch, n.].

•  To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.  [1913 Webster]
•  To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To delineate; design; draught; depict.

Sketch, v. i. 

 To make sketches, as of landscapes.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Sketch, n. & v.
--n.
1 a rough, slight, merely outlined, or unfinished drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture.
2 a brief account without many details conveying a general idea of something, a rough draft or general outline.
3 a very short play, usu. humorous and limited to one scene.
4 a short descriptive piece of writing.
5 a musical composition of a single movement.
6 colloq. a comical person or thing.
--v.
1 tr. make or give a sketch of.
2 intr. draw sketches esp. of landscape (went out sketching).
3 tr. (often foll. by in, out) indicate briefly or in outline.

Idiom

sketch-book (or -block) a pad of drawing-paper for doing sketches on. sketch-map a roughly-drawn map with few details.

Derivative

sketcher n.

Etymology

Du. schets or G Skizze f. It. schizzo f. schizzare make a sketch ult. f. Gk skhedios extempore

THESAURUS

Sketch

Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, abbreviation, abbreviature, abrege, abridge, abridgment, abstract, act, act as foil, adumbrate, afterpiece, antimasque, appear, article, audience success, ballet, barnstorm, bit, black and white, block in, block out, blueprint, bomb, brief, bring to life, broadcast drama, brouillon, burlesque show, cameo, capsule, capsulize, cartoon, catalog, cataloging, causerie, chalk, chalk out, character, character sketch, characterization, characterize, charade, charcoal, charcoal drawing, chart, chaser, chiaroscuro, cliff hanger, closet drama, color, come out, comedy drama, compend, condensation, condense, condensed version, conspectus, copy, crayon, critical success, crosshatch, curtain, curtain call, curtain raiser, dash off, daub, daytime serial, delineate, delineation, depict, depiction, descant, describe, description, design, detail, details, develop, diagram, dialogue, digest, discourse, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, divertimento, divertissement, documentary drama, doodle, draft, drama, dramalogue, dramatic play, dramatic series, draw, drawing, duodrama, duologue, ebauche, elevation, emote, emotionalize, epic theater, epilogue, epitome, esquisse, essay, etude, evocation, evoke, examination, excursus, exode, exodus, experimental theater, exposition, expository scene, express, extravaganza, failure, feature, figure, finale, first approach, flop, gasser, get top billing, give words to, giveaway, graph, graphic account, ground plan, happening, hatch, head, hit, hit show, hoke act, homily, house plan, ichnography, image, imagery, impression, improvisational drama, interlude, intermezzo, intermission, introduction, introductory study, itemization, lay, lay off, lay out, legitimate drama, limn, limning, line, line drawing, lucubration, map, map out, mark off, mark out, masque, melodrama, memoir, mime, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play, monodrama, monograph, monologue, morality, morality play, morceau, music drama, musical revue, mystery, mystery play, note, number, nutshell, opera, outline, overview, pageant, paint, paint a picture, pandect, panel show, pantomime, paper, paragraph, particularization, pastel, pastoral, pastoral drama, patter, pattern, pen-and-ink, pencil, pencil drawing, perform, photograph, picture, picturize, piece, play, play the lead, playact, playlet, plot, plot out, portrait, portraiture, portray, portrayal, precis, preliminary study, problem play, profile, projection, prolegomenon, prologue, psychodrama, quiz show, radio drama, register, render, rendering, rendition, represent, representation, research paper, review, revue, rough, rough copy, rough draft, rough in, rough out, rough outline, routine, rubric, scene, scratch, screed, scumble, sensational play, serial, set forth, set out, shade, shorten, shortened version, show, shtick, silhouette, silver-print drawing, sinopia, sitcom, situation comedy, skeleton, sketch out, skit, soap, soap opera, sociodrama, song and dance, special article, specification, spectacle, stage play, stage show, stand-up comedy act, star, steal the show, stencil, stooge, straight drama, striptease, study, success, summarize, survey, suspense drama, syllabus, synopsis, synopsize, table, tableau, tableau vivant, talk show, teleplay, television drama, television play, term paper, theater of cruelty, theme, thesis, thumbnail sketch, tint, topical outline, total theater, trace, tracing, tract, tractate, tread the boards, treatise, treatment, troupe, turn, upstage, variety show, vaudeville, vaudeville show, vehicle, vignette, vivid description, word painting, word-of-mouth success, work, working drawing, write

ROGET THESAURUS

Sketch

Description

N description, account, statement, report, expose, specification, particulars, state of facts, summary of facts, brief, return, catalogue raisonne, guidebook, delineation, sketch, monograph, minute account, detailed particular account, circumstantial account, graphic account, narration, recital, rehearsal, relation, historiography, chronography, historic Muse, Clio, history, biography, autobiography, necrology, obituary, narrative, history, memoir, memorials, annals, saga, tradition, legend, story, tale, historiette, personal narrative, journal, life, adventures, fortunes, experiences, confessions, anecdote, ana, trait, work of fiction, novel, romance, Minerva press, fairy tale, nursery tale, fable, parable, apologue, dime novel, penny dreadful, shilling shocker relator, raconteur, historian, biographer, fabulist, novelist, descriptive, graphic, narrative, epic, suggestive, well-drawn, historic, traditional, traditionary, legendary, anecdotic, storied, described, furor scribendi.

Plan

N plan, scheme, design, project, proposal, proposition, suggestion, resolution, motion, precaution, deep- laid plan, system, organization, germ, sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche, brouillon, rough cast, rough draft, draught copy, copy, proof, revise, drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation), forecast, program, programme, prospectus, carte du pays, card, bill, protocol, order of the day, list of agenda, bill of fare, base of operations, platform, plank, slate, ticket, role, policy, contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device, pipelaying, stratagem, trick, alternative, loophole, shift, last shift, measure, step, stroke, stroke of policy, master stroke, trump card, court card, cheval de bataille, great gun, coup, coup d'etat, clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke, bright thought, bright idea, intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot, machination, subplot, underplot, counterplot, schemer, schemist, schematist, strategist, machinator, projector, artist, promoter, designer, conspirator, intrigant, planned, strategic, strategical, planning, prepared, in course of preparation, under consideration, on the tapis, on the carpet, on the floor.

VB plan, scheme, design, frame, contrive, project, forecast, sketch, devise, invent, set one's wits to work, spring a project, fall upon, hit upon, strike out, chalk out, cut out, lay out, map out, lay down a plan, shape out a course, mark out a course, predetermine, concert, preconcert, preestablish, prepare, hatch, hatch a plot concoct, take steps, take measures, cast, recast, systematize, organize, arrange, digest, mature, plot, counter-plot, counter-mine, dig a mine, lay a train, intrigue.

Form

VB form, shape, figure, fashion, efform, carve, cut, chisel, hew, cast, rough hew, rough cast, sketch, block out, hammer out, trim, lick into shape, put into shape, model, knead, work up into, set, mold, sculpture, cast, stamp, build.

Representation

N representation, representment, imitation, illustration, delineation, depictment, imagery, portraiture, iconography, design, designing, art, fine arts, painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, cinematography, radiography, autoradiography, fluorography, sciagraphy, personation, personification, impersonation, drama, picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, X-ray photo, movie film, movie, tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV, copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, represent, representing, representative, illustrative, represented, imitative, figurative, iconic, like, graphic, cinquecento quattrocento, trecento.

VB copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, V, represent, delineate, depict, depicture, portray, take a likeness, catch a likeness, hit off, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, figure, shadow forth, shadow out, adumbrate, body forth, describe, trace, copy, mold, dress up, illustrate, symbolize, paint, carve, engrave, personate, personify, impersonate, assume a character, pose as, act, play, mimic, hold the mirror up to nature.

Painting

N painting, depicting, drawing, design, perspective, sciagraphy, skiagraphy, chiaroscuro, composition, treatment, historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting, landscape painting, marine painting, still life, flower painting, scene painting, scenography, school, style, the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture, ornamental art, monochrome, polychrome, grisaille, pallet, palette, easel, brush, pencil, stump, black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel, paint, watercolor, body color, oil color, oils, oil paint, varnish, priming, gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass, enamel, encaustic painting, mosaic, tapestry, photography, heliography, color photography, sun painting, graphics, computer graphics, picture, painting, piece, tableau, canvas, oil painting, fresco, cartoon, easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft, pencil drawing, water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink, sketch, outline, study, photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph, daguerreotype, talbotype, calotype, heliotype, negative, positive, print, glossy print, matte print, enlargement, reduction, life-size print, instant photo, Polaroid photo, technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Polaroid, portrait, whole length, full length, half length, kitcat, head, miniature, shade, silhouette, profile, landscape, seapiece, view, scene, prospect, panorama, diorama, still life, picture gallery, exhibit, studio, atelier, pinacotheca, painted, pictorial, graphic, picturesque, pencil, oil, in pencil, fecit, delineavit, mutum est pictura poema.

VB paint, design, limn draw, sketch, pencil, scratch, shade, stipple, hatch, dash off, chalk out, square up, color, dead color, wash, varnish, draw in pencil, paint in oils, stencil, depict.