The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Delineation \De*lin`e*a"tion\, n. [L. delineatio: cf. F.
   d['e]lin['e]ation.]
   1. The act of representing, portraying, or describing, as by
      lines, diagrams, sketches, etc.; drawing an outline; as,
      the delineation of a scene or face; in drawing and
      engraving, representation by means of lines, as
      distinguished from representation by means of tints and
      shades; accurate and minute representation, as
      distinguished from art that is careless of details, or
      subordinates them excessively.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A delineated picture; representation; sketch; description
      in words.
      [1913 Webster]

            Their softest delineations of female beauty. --W.
                                                  Irving.

   Syn: Sketch; portrait; outline. See Sketch.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

delineation
    n 1: a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the
         narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the
         author gives a depressing picture of life in Poland"; "the
         pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous
         Vermonters" [syn: word picture, word-painting,
         delineation, depiction, picture, characterization,
         characterisation]
    2: a drawing of the outlines of forms or objects [syn:
       delineation, depiction, limning, line drawing]
    3: representation by drawing or painting etc [syn: depiction,
       delineation, portrayal]