Wiktionary

superficial

English edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

superficial (comparative more superficial, superlative most superficial)

  1. (relational) Existing, occurring, or located on the surface.
    Synonym: surficial
    2. (anatomy, relational, often with to) Closer to the surface of the body; especially, situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it.
      Antonym: deep
      superficial muscles
      The epidermis is superficial to the subcutis.
  2. Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
    Synonym: external
  3. Not thorough, deep, or complete; concerned only with the obvious or apparent.
    Synonyms: cursory, skin-deep, surface-level
    Antonyms: in-depth, thorough
    • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page vii:
      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.
    1. ​Lacking depth of character or understanding; lacking substance or significance.
      Synonym: shallow
      Antonym: substantive
      • 2014, "Little Green Men": A Primer on Modern Russian Unconventional Warfare, Ukraine 2013–2014‎[1], Fort Bragg, North Carolina: The United States Army Special Operations Command, page 43:
        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
  4. (rare) Two-dimensional; drawn on a flat surface.
  5. (British, architecture) Denoting a quantity of a material expressed in terms of area covered rather than linear dimension or volume.
    Synonym: square
    one superficial foot

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Translations edit

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Noun edit

superficial (plural superficials)

  1. (usually in the plural) A surface detail.
    He always concentrates on the superficials and fails to see the real issue.

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References edit

Catalan edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin superficiālis.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

superficial m or f (masculine and feminine plural superficials)

  1. superficial

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Further reading edit

Galician edit

Etymology edit

From Latin superficiālis.

Pronunciation edit

  This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Adjective edit

superficial m or f (plural superficiais)

  1. superficial
  2. surficial; of the surface

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Further reading edit

Interlingua edit

Adjective edit

superficial (not comparable)

  1. superficial (pertaining to the surface)

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Portuguese edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Latin superficiālis. By surface analysis, superfície +‎ -al.

Pronunciation edit

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /su.peʁ.fi.siˈaw/ [su.peh.fi.sɪˈaʊ̯], (faster pronunciation) /su.peʁ.fiˈsjaw/ [su.peh.fiˈsjaʊ̯]
    • (São Paulo) IPA(key): /su.peɾ.fi.siˈaw/ [su.peɾ.fi.sɪˈaʊ̯], (faster pronunciation) /su.peɾ.fiˈsjaw/ [su.peɾ.fiˈsjaʊ̯]
    • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /su.peʁ.fi.siˈaw/ [su.peχ.fi.sɪˈaʊ̯], (faster pronunciation) /su.peʁ.fiˈsjaw/ [su.peχ.fiˈsjaʊ̯]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /su.peɻ.fi.siˈaw/ [su.peɻ.fi.sɪˈaʊ̯], (faster pronunciation) /su.peɻ.fiˈsjaw/ [su.peɻ.fiˈsjaʊ̯]
 
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /su.pɨɾ.fiˈsjal/ [su.pɨɾ.fiˈsjaɫ]
    • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /su.pɨɾ.fiˈsja.li/

  • Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
  • Hyphenation: su‧per‧fi‧ci‧al

Adjective edit

superficial m or f (plural superficiais)

  1. superficial (comprising a surface)
    camada superficial ― surface layer
  2. superficial; shallow (not reaching or penetrating deep)
    ferida superficial ― superficial wound
  3. shallow (overly concerned with superficial matters)
    pessoa superficial ― shallow person
  4. superficial (lacking thoroughness or attention to minor details)
    análise superficial ― superficial analysis

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Further reading edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French superficiel. By surface analysis, superficie +‎ -al.

Adjective edit

superficial m or n (feminine singular superficială, masculine plural superficiali, feminine and neuter plural superficiale)

  1. shallow (about people)

Declension edit

Declension of superficial
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite superficial superficială superficiali superficiale
definite superficialul superficiala superficialii superficialele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite superficial superficiale superficiali superficiale
definite superficialului superficialei superficialilor superficialelor

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Spanish edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin superficiālis.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): (Spain) /supeɾfiˈθjal/ [su.peɾ.fiˈθjal]
  • IPA(key): (Latin America) /supeɾfiˈsjal/ [su.peɾ.fiˈsjal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: su‧per‧fi‧cial

Adjective edit

superficial m or f (masculine and feminine plural superficiales)

  1. superficial
  2. shallow (lacking substance)
    Antonym: profundo

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Related terms edit

Further reading edit

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