Shallow

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈʃaləʊ/
• US IPA: /ˈʃæl.oÊŠ/
• Rhymes: -æləʊ

Origin

From Middle English schalowe ("not deep, shallow"); apparently related to Old English sceald ("shallow"). See also shoal.

Full definition of shallow

Adjective

1. Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.This crater is relatively shallow.Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
2. Extending not far downward.The water is shallow here.
3. Concerned mainly with superficial matters.It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
4. Lacking interest or substance.The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
5. Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.shallow learning
• Francis BaconThe king was neither so shallow, nor so ill advertised, as not to perceive the intention of the French king.
6. (obsolete) Not deep in tone.
• Francis Baconthe sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring
7. (tennis) Not far forward, close to the net
• 2012, June 28, Jamie Jackson, Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal, Rosol spurned the chance to finish off a shallow second serve by spooning into the net, and a wild forehand took the set to 5-4, with the native of Prerov required to hold his serve for victory.

Antonyms

• deep

Noun

1. A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
• Francis BaconA swift stream is not heard in the channel, but upon shallows of gravel.
• Drydendashed on the shallows of the moving sand
2. A fish, the rudd.

Usage notes

Usually used in the plural form.

Verb

1. To make or become less deep
• February 6, The shallowing of Cenozoic age-frequency curves from tropics to poles thus appears to reflect the decreasing probability for genera to reach and remain established in progressively higher latitudes ( 9 ).

Anagrams

• hallows