sketch

[ skech ]
See synonyms for sketch on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a simply or hastily executed drawing or painting, especially a preliminary one, giving the essential features without the details.

  2. a rough design, plan, or draft, as of a book.

  1. a brief or hasty outline of facts, occurrences, etc.: a sketch of his life.

  2. a short, usually descriptive, essay, history, or story.

  3. a short play or slight dramatic performance, as one forming part of a vaudeville program.

verb (used with object)
  1. to make a sketch of.

  2. to set forth in a brief or general account: He sketched his own part in the affair.

  1. Metallurgy. (in a steel mill or the like) to mark (a piece) for cutting.

verb (used without object)
  1. to make a sketch or sketches.

Origin of sketch

1
1660–70; <Dutch schets (noun) ≪ Italian schizzo<Latin schedium extemporaneous poem, noun use of neuter of schedius extempore <Greek schédios

synonym study For sketch

6. See depict.

Other words for sketch

Other words from sketch

  • sketcher, noun
  • sketch·ing·ly, adverb
  • sketchlike, adjective
  • re·sketch, verb (used with object)
  • un·sketched, adjective
  • well-sketched, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sketch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sketch

sketch

/ (skɛtʃ) /


noun
  1. a rapid drawing or painting, often a study for subsequent elaboration

  2. a brief usually descriptive and informal essay or other literary composition

  1. a short play, often comic, forming part of a revue

  2. a short evocative piece of instrumental music, esp for piano

  3. any brief outline

verb
  1. to make a rough drawing (of)

  2. (tr often foll by out) to make a brief description of

Origin of sketch

1
C17: from Dutch schets, via Italian from Latin schedius hastily made, from Greek skhedios unprepared

Derived forms of sketch

  • sketchable, adjective
  • sketcher, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012