Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
su·per·fi·cial
\\ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-shəl\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Late Latin superficialis, from Latin superficies
DATE 15th century
1.
a.
(1) of, relating to, or located near a surface
(2) lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface
superficial wounds
b. British,
of a unit of measure : square
superficial foot2.
a. concerned only with the obvious or apparent : shallow
b. seen on the surface : external
c. presenting only an appearance without substance or significance
•
su·per·fi·cial·ly \\-ˈfi-sh(ə-)lē\\
adverbSynonyms.
superficial
,
shallow
,
cursory
mean lacking in depth or solidity.
superficial
implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features
a superficial analysis of the problem
shallow
is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character
a light, shallow, and frivolous review
cursory
suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details
gave the letter only a cursory reading superficial
c.1420, "of or relating to a surface," from L. superficialis "of or pertaining to the surface," from superficies "surface," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.)). Meaning "not deep or thorough" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) first recorded c.1530.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
superficialsuper·fi·cial /
7su:pE5fiFl;
7sju:-;
NAmE 7su:pEr5f- /
adjective1. (often
disapproving) not studying or looking at sth thoroughly; seeing only what is obvious
粗略的；肤浅的；粗枝大叶的；浅薄的:
a superficial analysis 粗略的分析
The book shows only a superficial understanding of the historical context. 这部书表现出对历史背景肤浅的理解。2. appearing to be true, real or important until you look at it more carefully
表面的；外面的；外表的:
superficial differences / similarities 表面的相异/相似之处
When you first meet her, she gives a superficial impression of warmth and friendliness. 初次见面时,她总给人以热情亲切的表面印象。3. (of a wound or damage 伤口或损坏) only affecting the surface and therefore not serious
表层的；表皮的:
a superficial injury 皮外伤
superficial burns 表面烧伤4. (
disapproving) not concerned with anything serious or important and lacking any depth of understanding or feeling
浅薄的；肤浅的
SYN shallow
:
a superficial friendship 浅薄的交情
The guests engaged in superficial chatter. 客人闲聊起来。
She's so superficial! 她太肤浅了！5. (technical 术语) of or on the surface of sth
表面的；浅表的:
superficial veins 浅静脉
a superficial deposit of acidic soils 沉积在表层的酸性土壤• super·fici·al·ity /
7su:pE7fiFi5AlEti;
7sju:-;
NAmE 7su:pEr7f- /
noun [U]• super·fi·cial·ly /
-FEli /
adv. Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishsuperficial
adj.
VERBS be, seem | remain
ADV. extremely, very | entirely, purely He began to feel he could cope, on a purely superficial level, at least. | increasingly | largely, more or less | fairly, quite, rather, relatively, somewhat
superficial adj.
⇨ apparent
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
Search result show the entry is found in:
superficial blastula
, or
superficial cleavage
, or
superficial fascia
, or
superficial temporal artery
, or
superficial temporal vein
su·per·fi·cialI. \|süpə(r)|fishəl\
adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Late Latin
superficialis, from Latin
superficies top, surface +
-alis -al
1.
a. : of or relating to a surface
: lying on, not penetrating below, occurring in, or affecting only the surface or surface layers
< multiple superficial wounds of the left and right thigh — Ernest Hemingway >
< the superficial area of the wall — Code for Dwelling Construction >
< the superficial layers of water through which light penetrates — R.E.Coker >
b. of a unit of measure : not solid or linear
: square
< superficial foot >
c. : of, relating to, or being the unconsolidated formations (as glacial drift or alluvium) that constitute most of the surface of the land
: surficial
2.
a.
(1) : not penetrating beneath or farther than the easily or quickly apprehended features of a thing
: concerned only with the obvious or apparent
: cursory
,
hasty
,
casual
< the newspapers' superficial report … never gave the true picture — Farm Journal >
< current but mostly superficial explanations — Franz Alexander >
(2) : lacking in depth or substantial qualities
: not profound
: shallow
< his thinking was superficial and fuzzy — W.E.Davies >
< the religion … from which superficial knowledge estranges us — W.R.Inge >
< his talents were … wasted in the production of superficial trash — R.A.Hall b.1911 >
(3) : lacking in thoroughness of intellect, scholarship, or wisdom
: not given to soundness
< superficial research workers … often lack the … breadth of view to prevent them from giving absurd interpretations to their statistical results — M.R.Cohen >
< children who seem to care little about learning and whose minds are definitely superficial in character — Morris Fishbein >
b. : seen on the surface
: external
< their superficial defect … cannot blind us to the sterling workmanship — W.B.Adams >
< superficial changes in costume and creed — Lewis Mumford >
c. : presenting only an appearance or a semblance
: not far-reaching, significant, or genuine
< the superficial differences of accent which are inevitable in such an international language — David Abercrombie >
< maintaining the superficial charm of a glib intellectual — Arthur Knight >
•
su·per·fi·cial·ly \-sh(ə)lē, -li\
adverb
•
su·per·fi·cial·ness \ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈfishəlnə̇s\
noun -esII. noun
(
-s)
1. : a person or thing that is superficial
2. : a superficial aspect, character, or quality
< the American novel of today is only English in superficials — Times Literary Supplement >