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Superficial

//ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Existing, occurring, or located on the surface. relational
  2. 2
    Existing, occurring, or located on the surface.; Close to the surface of the body; especially, situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it. often, relational

    "superficial muscles"

  3. 3
    Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
  4. 4
    Not thorough, deep, or complete; concerned only with the obvious or apparent.

    "Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections, rather than superficial study of every packet that comes to hand."

  5. 5
    Not thorough, deep, or complete; concerned only with the obvious or apparent.; Lacking depth of character or understanding; lacking substance or significance.

    "These infamous little green men appeared during the decisive seizures or buildings and facilities, only to disappear when associated militias and local troops arrived to consolidate the gains. In this way they provided a measure of deniability—however superficial or implausible—for Moscow.⁴⁰"

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Two-dimensional; drawn on a flat surface. rare
  2. 7
    Denoting a quantity of a material expressed in terms of area covered rather than linear dimension or volume. British

    "one superficial foot"

Adjective
  1. 1
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough wordnet
  2. 2
    occurring on or near the surface of the skin wordnet
  3. 3
    concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually wordnet
  4. 4
    of little substance or significance wordnet
  5. 5
    of, affecting, or being on or near the surface wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A surface detail. plural-normally

    "He always concentrates on the superficials and fails to see the real issue."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowing from Late Latin superficiālis (“of or belonging to the surface”), from superficiēs (“top, surface”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

Etymology 2

Borrowing from Late Latin superficiālis (“of or belonging to the surface”), from superficiēs (“top, surface”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

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