shallow

Meaning

Adj

1. Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
2. Extending not far downward.
3. Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
4. Lacking interest or substance; flat; one-dimensional.
5. Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
6. (obsolete) Not deep in tone.
7. Not far forward, close to the net.
8. Not steep; close to horizontal.

Noun

1. A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
2. A fish, the rudd.
3. (historical) A costermonger's barrow.

Verb

To make or become less deep.

Synonyms

superficial

shoal

not deep

frivolous

cursory

flat

flippant

wide

low

fordable

irresponsible

light

sciolistic

perfunctory

short

empty

feckless

thin

idle

skin-deep

broad

stupid

dull

ineffectual

basin

surface

reduce

reef

round

sandbar

silly

silt

simple

sketchy

squat

thoughtless

tone down

two-dimensional

underslung

unintelligent

unsubstantial

vacuous

vain

vapid

wash

🧽

wok

become shallow

dilettanteish

of thin make

slight wound

Translations

seicht

flach

superficiel

peu profond

ondiep

superficial

raso

bajo

poco profondo

ρηχός

poco profundo

oberflächlich

superficiale

superficial

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʃaləʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: schalowe

Cognate with Middle English: schalde

Cognate with Old English: sċeald

Cognate with Low German: Scholl

In summary

From Middle English schalowe (“not deep, shallow”); apparently related to Middle English schalde, schold, scheld, schealde (“shallow”), from Old English sċeald (“shallow”), from Proto-Germanic *skal-, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (“to parch, dry out”). Related to Low German Scholl (“shallow water”). See also shoal.