dessiner

to draw, to sketch

verb deh-see-NEH Less Common

Also means

to design

Usage Note

dessiner covers freehand drawing as well as technical design. The noun le dessin (drawing) and le dessinateur/la dessinatrice (draughtsperson) are close relatives. The phrase dessiner les contours de is used figuratively to mean 'to outline' or 'to shape' a project.

Examples

"Elle dessine un portrait au crayon."

Natural Translation

She draws a portrait in pencil.

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