superficial

Word family

Related topics: Earth sciences

su·per·fi·cial /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl◂ $ -pər-/ adjectiveadj

1 not looking/studying carefully 不仔细察看的/研究的CARELESS not studying or looking at something carefully and only seeing the most noticeable things 肤浅的，浅薄的，不深入的

superficial examination/study etc

5They only have the most superficial understanding of prison life.

他们对监狱生活只有最粗浅的了解。

Even a superficial inspection revealed serious flaws.

即使是粗略的检查都发现了严重的缺陷。

n Naturally, such visits can allow only the most superficial understanding of prison life.

2 appearance 外表SEEM seeming to have a particular quality, although this is not true or real 表面（上）的

superficial resemblance/similarity

Despite their superficial similarities, the two novels are, in fact, very different.

这两本小说尽管表面上有相似之处，但实际上大不一样。

Beneath his refined manners and superficial elegance lay something treacherous.

在他温文尔雅、貌似高贵的举止下隐藏着某种奸诈。

at/on a superficial level

At a superficial level, things seem to have remained the same.

从表面上看，似乎一切都没变。

3 wound/damage 伤口/损伤LITTLE/NOT MUCH affecting only the surface of your skin or the outside part of something, and therefore not serious 表皮的，表面的

She escaped with only superficial cuts and bruises.

她侥幸躲过一劫，只受了点皮外伤。

superficial damage

表面的损坏

4 person 人STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE someone who is superficial does not think about things that are serious or important – used to show disapproval 〔思想〕浅薄的，肤浅的〔含贬义〕 SYN shallow

All the other girls seemed silly and superficial to Darlene.

所有其他女孩在达琳看来都是又愚蠢又肤浅。

5 not important 不重要的UNIMPORTANT superficial changes, difficulties etc are not important and do not have a big effect 〔变化、困难等〕不重要的，影响不大的 SYN minor

superficial changes in government policies

政府政策的细微变动

6. top layer 表层HETOP existing in or relating to the top layer of something, especially soil, rock etc 〔尤指土壤、岩石等〕表层的

—superficially adverbadv

—superficiality /ˌsuːpəfɪʃiˈæləti $ -pər-/ noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

superficial• But Pittsburgh women are not silly or superficial.• He had always thought of it as a superficial and outmoded gesture found only in old novels.• As a reader I think there is too much superficial cricket autobiography and biography already available.• Barlow was treated for a superficial gunshot wound to the leg.• To Ahab, the White Whale represents the impossibility of going behind the superficial layers of nature or reality.• The head and snout alone bear some superficial likeness to those of that familiar creature.• Debbie kept canceling our dates for superficial reasons.• The landscape bore a superficial resemblance to England's green and pleasant land, and each house had a small suburban garden.• a superficial understanding of physics• The people are friendly, but only in a superficial way.

superficial examination/study etc• After he'd made a quick and fairly superficial examination I locked the door.• Searches are restricted to superficial examination of outer clothing.

superficial resemblance/similarity• But that is a superficial similarity.• Genesis 1 has often been compared with the Babylonian account of creation to which it bears a superficial resemblance.• There were, it was true, any number of superficial similarities.• I shall suggest that, although they capture some superficial similarities between the two issues, they are ultimately misleading.• The superficial similarities might make a lesser man than Mikhail Gorbachev tremble.• The variety underlying the superficial similarity of idiom is enormous, even within the work of a single composer.• But such arrangements bear only a superficial resemblance to classic design.• They claim that despite superficial similarities with shamanism, something very different is going on.

Origin superficial

(1300-1400) Late Latin superficialis, from Latin superficies “surface”, from facies “face”

su·per·fi·cial adjectiveadj

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