sketches

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of sketch.

   The gallery devoted a whole room to the painter's early sketches.

   The comedy troupe rehearsed three new sketches before opening night.

   Note

   Every meaning of the singular can take this plural, so context decides what is being counted. A painter's sketches are quick drawings, a writer's may be brief essays or portraits of people, and a composer's are short piano pieces. The -es ending follows the ch, and the same spelling serves the verb form: in "she sketches" it is a verb, in "the sketches" a noun. The word in front usually tells you which one you have.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of sketch.

   Whenever he travels, he sketches the buildings that catch his eye.

   The architect sketches a rough layout before committing anything to the computer.

   Note

   Here the word does two jobs. When it means drawing, it can stand without an object (she sketches every morning) or take one (she sketches the harbor). When it means describing in outline, it always needs an object: the report sketches the problem. Only he, she, it or a singular noun takes this form. Other subjects use plain sketch.

   She sketches in the park most mornings.

   The opening chapter sketches the town's history in a few pages.

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