5 syllables: de, li, ne, at, ed. Stress on li.
dil-IN-ee-ay-tid
/dɪˈlɪniˌeɪtɪd/
delineated is pronounced dil-IN-ee-ay-tid (/dɪˈlɪniˌeɪtɪd/). It has five syllables (de-li-ne-at-ed), with the stress on "li". Delineated means clearly described or outlined in detail, typically by drawing or specifying boundaries, features, or separations. It implies a precise, explicit depiction or demarcation of characteristics. The term is common in academic, scientific, and legal writing to indicate a thorough, structured presentation of information.
Delineated means clearly described or outlined in detail, typically by drawing or specifying boundaries, features, or separations. It implies a precise, explicit depiction or demarcation of characteristics. The term is common in academic, scientific, and legal writing to indicate a thorough, structured presentation of information.
"The contract delineated the responsibilities of each party with exact timelines."
"Her map delineated the borders of the nature reserve to avoid encroachments."
"The report delineates the differences between the two methodologies in a step-by-step fashion."
Break it as de-LIN-i-a-ted. Primary stress on the second syllable /ˈlɪ/. The syllable sequence is /dɪ/ - /ˈlɪn/ - /iˌeɪ/ - /tɪd/ in typical English pronunciation. In IPA: US: /dɪˈlɪniˌeɪtɪd/, UK: /dɪˈlɪnɪˌeɪtɪd/, AU: /dɪˈlɪniˌeɪtɪd/. Focus on a crisp /lɪn/ and a clear /eɪ/ before the final /tɪd/. Mouth positions: start with a light /d/ release, central tongue for /ɪ/, tip of the tongue lightly touching the alveolar ridge for /l/, second /ɪ/ as a relaxed short /ɪ/, glide into /eɪ/ with mid-open jaw, finish with /t/ and voiced/voiceless blend to /ɪd/. Audio reference: you can compare with Pronounce or Cambridge online audio for /dɪˈleniˌeɪt/ sequences.
Two common errors are flattening the stress to the first syllable (de-LI-neated) and turning the /eɪ/ into a short /e/ or /iː/ sound. Another mistake is mispronouncing the /ˌeɪ/ sequence as /iə/ or /eɪt/ without the correct final /tɪd/ transition. To correct, keep the secondary stress in the 4th syllable as needed and practice the /ˌeɪ/ diphthong clearly before the final /tɪd/. Emphasize a crisp /t/ before the final /ɪd/ and avoid rounding into /ed/ in connected speech.
In US English, expect /dɪˈlɪniˌeɪtɪd/ with clear /ɪ/ vowels and rhoticity unaffected by accent within the word. UK English tends to reduce the second vowel slightly and maintain the /ˈlɪn/ onset, with a clearer /tɪd/ ending; you may hear a slightly sharper /d/ release. Australian English often shows similar US patterns but with a more centralized vowel in /ɪ/ and a slightly flatter /eɪ/; final /tɪd/ remains. Across all, keep primary stress on second syllable and ensure the /eɪ/ is distinct.
Because it combines a consonant cluster and a long, accented second syllable with a diphthong in the third: /ˈlɪn/ plus /iˌeɪ/ and a final /tɪd/. The challenge is maintaining the /l/ and /n/ clarity in rapid speech while producing a precise /eɪ/ diphthong and clean /t/ before /ɪd/. Also, the presence of the –li– sequence can lean toward [lɪnˈi] if the tongue relaxes. Practicing the strong secondary stress on the penultimate dash helps stabilize rhythm.
No, delineated has all pronounced letters in standard varieties of English. The key is not silent letters but consistent pronunciation of the syllables: de-LIN-i-ated with stress on the second syllable and a clear /eɪ/ before the final /tɪd/. Some speakers may slightly de-emphasize the unstressed /i/ before the /eɪ/, but there are no silent letters in this word.
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Delineated comes from Latin delineare, meaning to sketch out, outline, or describe. Delineare is formed from de- (out, away) and linea (a line). The term entered English through Latin in the late medieval to early modern period, with use seen in legal and scholarly contexts as scholars began to express complex distinctions with precision. The root lin- relates to lines, boundaries, or limits, reinforcing the sense of drawing a boundary or distinguishing features clearly. Over time, delineated evolved from simply drawing a line to describing in detail the features or boundaries of objects, maps, or concepts. In scientific and academic prose, delineated has become a standard verb meaning “to describe or portray precisely,” often as part of a methodical exposition. First known uses appear in translations and scholarly works of the 16th to 17th centuries, where delineatio (the act of outlining) and delineare (to draw boundaries) were commonly employed in rhetoric, law, and geometry. The form delineated (past participle) appears in legal documents and descriptive scientific writing as a marker of thorough, explicit delineation, distinguishing it from more casual terms like “outlined” or “described.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "delineated" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "delineated"
-ted sounds
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