superficial

superficial
su|per|fi|cial [ ,supər`fıʃl ] adjective *
▸ 1 not complete
▸ 2 only on the surface
▸ 3 not thinking seriously
▸ 4 appearing to be similar
▸ 5 in top layer
1. ) not complete or thorough: CURSORY:
The study is too superficial for us to reach any conclusion.
I have only a superficial knowledge of the subject.
She made a quick and superficial examination of the car.
2. ) affecting or involving only the surface or outside part of something: MINOR:
Her injuries were only superficial.
The house suffered superficial damage from the flood.
3. ) a superficial person does not think about serious or important things: SHALLOW:
Sarah is so superficial, she only cares about how she looks.
He writes about living in a greedy and superficial society.
a ) not important or not having a serious effect:
We talked about superficial topics like sports and the weather.
These are superficial policy changes that help no one.
4. ) used for describing the way something appears or seems to be although it is really not like this:
Any similarities between the countries are merely superficial.
The monkeys bear a superficial resemblance but are in fact quite distinct.
5. ) TECHNICAL in or part of the top layer of something such as skin, soil, or rock:
Superficial tree roots will catch the rain water before it evaporates away.
╾ su|per|fi|ci|al|i|ty [ ,supərfıʃı`æləti ] noun uncount
╾ su|per|fi|cial|ly adverb

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Superficial — Su per*fi cial, a. [L. superficialis: cf. F. superficiel. See {Superficies}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the superficies, or surface; lying on the surface; shallow; not deep; as, a superficial color; a superficial covering; superficial measure or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • superficial — SUPERFICIÁL, Ă, superficiali, e, adj. Care apare, se produce, rămâne la suprafaţa unui obiect, a unei fiinţe; fig. care apare, se produce, rămâne la suprafaţă, fără să atingă miezul, esenţa lucrurilor. ♦ fig. (Despre oameni) Care tratează… …   Dicționar Român

  • superficial — superficial, shallow, cursory, uncritical can mean lacking in depth, solidity, and comprehensiveness. Superficial applies chiefly to persons, their minds, their emotions, their attainments, or their utterances or writings, but it is also… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • superficial — adjetivo 1. De la superficie: quemadura superficial, capa superficial. 2. Que no tiene solidez ni profundidad, o que se queda en la superficie: amistad superficial, conversación superficial. 3. Uso/registro: coloquial. Pragmática …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • superficial — [so͞o΄pər fish′əl] adj. [ME superficyall < L superficialis < superficies: see SUPERFICIES] 1. a) of or being on the surface [a superficial burn] b) of or limited to surface area; plane [superficial measurements] 2. concerned with and… …   English World dictionary

  • Superficial — is a general term meaning regarding the surface , often metaphorically. Both in the literal as in the metaphorical sense the term has often a negative connotation based on the idea that deeper parts are also important to consider.In human anatomy …   Wikipedia

  • superficial — (Del lat. superficiālis). 1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo a la superficie. 2. Que está o se queda en ella. 3. Aparente, sin solidez ni sustancia. 4. Frívolo, sin fundamento. ☛ V. estructura superficial, tensión superficial …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • Superficial — (Superficiär, v. lat.), oberflächlich, auf der Oberfläche befindlich, dieselbe allein angehend …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • superficial — 1. relacionado con la piel o con otra superficie. 2. que no es grave ni peligroso. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • superficial — I adjective careless, cursory, depthless, desultory, empty, exterior, external, frivolous, hasty, hurried, inane, insubstantial, lax, /ev/s, outward, perfunctory, sciolistic, shallow, shoal, silly, skin deep, slapdash, slight, surface, trifling,… …   Law dictionary

  • superficial — late 14c., in anatomical and mathematical uses, of or relating to a surface, from L. superficialis of or pertaining to the surface, from superficies surface, from super above, over (see SUPER (Cf. super )) + facies form, face (see FACE (Cf. face) …   Etymology dictionary

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