4 N‑COUNT An outlet is a hole or pipe through which liquid or air can flow away. □ …a warm air outlet.
5 N‑COUNT An outlet is a place, usually in a wall, where you can connect electrical devices to the electricity supply. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use socket
out|line ◆◇◇ /aʊ tla I n/ (outlines , outlining , outlined )
1 VERB If you outline an idea or a plan, you explain it in a general way. □ [V n] The mayor outlined his plan to clean up the town's image.
2 N‑VAR [oft in N ] An outline is a general explanation or description of something. □ [+ of ] Following is an outline of the survey findings. □ The proposals were given in outline by the Secretary of State.
3 V-PASSIVE You say that an object is outlined when you can see its general shape because there is light behind it. □ [be V -ed] The Ritz was outlined against the lights up there.
4 N‑COUNT The outline of something is its general shape, especially when it cannot be clearly seen. □ [+ of ] He could see only the hazy outline of the goalposts.
out|live /aʊ tl I v/ (outlives , outliving , outlived ) VERB If one person outlives another, they are still alive after the second person has died. If one thing outlives another thing, the first thing continues to exist after the second has disappeared or been replaced. □ [V n] I'm sure Rose will outlive many of us. □ [V n] The U.N. is an organisation which has long since outlived its usefulness.
out|look /aʊ tlʊk/ (outlooks )
1 N‑VAR [usu sing, oft in N ] Your outlook is your general attitude towards life. □ [+ on ] I adopted a positive outlook on life. □ We were quite different in outlook, Philip and I.
2 N‑SING The outlook for something is what people think will happen in relation to it. □ The economic outlook is one of rising unemployment.
out|ly|ing /aʊ tla I I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Outlying places are far away from the main cities of a country. □ Tourists can visit outlying areas like the Napa Valley Wine Country.
out|ma|noeu|vre /aʊ tmənuː və r / (outmanoeuvres , outmanoeuvring , outmanoeuvred ) in AM, use outmaneuver VERB If you outmanoeuvre someone, you gain an advantage over them in a particular situation by behaving in a clever and skilful way. □ [V n] He has shown once again that he's able to outmanoeuvre the military.
out|mod|ed /aʊ tmoʊ d I d/ ADJ If you describe something as outmoded , you mean that you think it is old-fashioned and no longer useful or relevant to modern life. □ Romania badly needs aid to modernise its outmoded industries. □ The political system has become thoroughly outmoded.
out|num|ber /aʊ tnʌ mbə r / (outnumbers , outnumbering , outnumbered ) VERB If one group of people or things outnumbers another, the first group has more people or things in it than the second group. □ [V n] …a town where men outnumber women four to one.
ou t of → see out ➍
ou t-of-bo dy ADJ [ADJ n] An out-of-body experience is one in which you feel as if you are outside your own body, watching it and what is going on around it.
ou t of da te also out-of-date ADJ Something that is out of date is old-fashioned and no longer useful. □ Think how rapidly medical knowledge has gone out of date in recent years.
ou t of doo rs also out-of-doors ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If you are out of doors , you are outside a building rather than inside it. □ Sometimes we eat out of doors.
ou t-of-po cket
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-pocket expenses are those which you pay out of your own money on behalf of someone else, and which are often paid back to you later.
2 → see also pocket
ou t-of-the-wa y also out of the way ADJ Out-of-the-way places are difficult to reach and are therefore not often visited. □ …an out-of-the-way spot.
ou t of tou ch
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is out of touch with a situation is not aware of recent changes in it. □ [+ with ] Washington politicians are out of touch with the American people.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are out of touch with someone, you have not been in contact with them recently and are not familiar with their present situation. □ [+ for ] James wasn't invited. We've been out of touch for years. [Also + with ]
ou t-of-to wn
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-town shops or facilities are situated away from the centre of a town or city. □ …shopping at cheaper, out-of-town supermarkets.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-town is used to describe people who do not live in a particular town or city, but have travelled there for a particular purpose. □ …a deluxe hotel for out-of-town visitors.
ou t of wo rk ADJ Someone who is out of work does not have a job. □ …a town where half the men are usually out of work. □ …an out of work actor.
out|pace /aʊ tpe I s/ (outpaces , outpacing , outpaced ) VERB To outpace someone or something means to perform a particular action faster or better than they can. □ [V n] These hovercraft can easily outpace most boats. □ [V n] The economy will continue to outpace its foreign rivals for years to come.
out|pa|tient /aʊ tpe I ʃənt/ (outpatients ) also out-patient N‑COUNT [oft N n] An outpatient is someone who receives treatment at a hospital but does not spend the night there. □ …the outpatient clinic. □ She received psychiatric care as an outpatient.