A rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not intended as a finished work, often consisting of a multitude of overlapping lines.
"The artist quickly sketched the bustling street scene on a napkin before it was taken away by the wind."
In plain English: A sketch is a quick, rough drawing made with just enough detail to show what something looks like.
"She showed me her quick sketch of the cat on a napkin."
To make a brief, basic drawing.
"The artist quickly sketched a rough outline of the mountain before starting the detailed painting."
In plain English: To sketch means to quickly draw something with just a few lines.
"She liked to quickly sketch her ideas before she started writing them down."
Usage: Use "sketch" to describe the act of creating a quick, unfinished freehand drawing rather than producing a polished final piece. This verb is often confused with "draw," but it specifically implies speed and lack of detail in your artistic process.
Sketchy, shady, questionable.
"The source of his money was sketchy, raising suspicions about his financial dealings."
In plain English: When something is described as sketchy, it feels suspicious, unreliable, or not quite right.
"The artist made quick sketches to capture his ideas before they were forgotten."
The word "sketch" comes from the Dutch and German words for a quick drawing, which ultimately trace back to Ancient Greek meaning something made suddenly or off-hand. It entered English through Italian and Latin before arriving in its current form.