The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
SUPERFICIAL
casual, cursory, passing, perfunctory, superficial
(adjective) hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough; “a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house’s structural flaws”; “a passing glance”; “perfunctory courtesy”; “In his paper, he showed a very superficial understanding of psychoanalytic theory”
superficial
(adjective) occurring on or near the surface of the skin; “superficial burns”; “superficial facial injuries”
superficial
(adjective) concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually; “superficial similarities”; “a superficial mind”; “his thinking was superficial and fuzzy”; “superficial knowledge”; “the superficial report didn’t give the true picture”; “only superficial differences”
superficial, trivial
(adjective) of little substance or significance; “a few superficial editorial changes”; “only trivial objections”
superficial
(adjective) of, affecting, or being on or near the surface; “superficial measurements”; “the superficial area of the wall”; “a superficial wound”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
superficial (comparative more superficial, superlative most superficial)
Of or pertaining to the surface.
Being near the surface.
Shallow, lacking substance.
At face value.
(rare) Two-dimensional; drawn on a flat surface.
Synonyms
• (of or pertaining to the surface): surficial
Antonyms
• in-depth
• thorough
• (lacking substance): substantive
Noun
superficial (plural superficials)
(chiefly in plural) A surface detail.
Source: Wiktionary
Su`per*fi"cial, a. Etym: [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 contents; superficial tillage.
2. Reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; not deep or profound; shallow; -- said especially in respect to study, learning, and the like; as, a superficial scholar; superficial knowledge. This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak. He is a presumptuous and superficial writer. Burke. That superficial judgment, which happens to be right without deserving to be so. J. H. Newman.
– Su`per*fi"cial*ly, adv.
– Su`per*fi"cial*ness, n.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 May 2025
UNSEASONED
(adjective) not tried or tested by experience; “unseasoned artillery volunteers”; “still untested in battle”; “an illustrator untried in mural painting”; “a young hand at plowing”
Coffee Trivia
