n. A brief, slight, or hasty delineation; a rapid or offhand presentation of the essential facts of anything; a rough draft; an outline: as, in literature, the sketch of an event, a character, or a career.n. In art:n. The first suggestive embodiment. of an artist's idea as expressed on canvas, or on paper, or in the clay model, upon which his more finished performance is to be elaborated or built up.n. A slight transcript from nature of the human figure, or of any object, made in crayon or chalk with simple shading, or any rough draft in colors, taken with the object of securing for the artist the materials for a finished picture; a design in outline; a delineated memorandum; a slight delineation or indication of an artist's thought, invention, or recollection.n. A short and slightly constructed play or literary composition: as, “sketches by Boz.”n. In music:n. A short composition consisting of a single movement: so called either from the simplicity of its construction, or because it is of a descriptive character, being suggested by some external object, or being intended to suggest such an object, as a fountain or a brook.n. Generally in the plural, preliminary memoranda made by a composer with the intention of developing them afterward into a finished composition.n. In com., a description, sent at regular intervals to the consignor, of the kinds of goods sold by a commission house and the terms of sale.To present the essential facts of, with omission of details; outline briefly or slightly; describe or depict in a general, incomplete, and suggestive way.Specifically, in art, to draw or portray in outline, or with partial shading; make a rough or slight draft of, especially as a memorandum for more finished work: as, to sketch a group or a landscape.Synonyms To portray. See outline, n.To make a sketch; present essential facts or features, with omission of details.Specifically, in art, to draw in outline or with partial shading: as, she sketches cleverly.