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Shallow vs Slight - What's the difference?

shallow | slight |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between shallow and slight

is that shallow is (obsolete) not deep in tone while slight is (obsolete) foolish; silly; weak in intellect.

As adjectives the difference between shallow and slight

is that shallow is having little depth; significantly less deep than wide while slight is small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.

As nouns the difference between shallow and slight

is that shallow is a shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water while slight is the act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

As verbs the difference between shallow and slight

is that shallow is to make or become less deep while slight is to treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.

shallow

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
    • This crater is relatively shallow .
    Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
  • Extending not far downward.
    • The water is shallow here.
  • Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
    • It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
  • Lacking interest or substance.
    • The acting is good, but the characters are shallow .
  • Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
    • shallow learning
  • * Francis Bacon
    • The king was neither so shallow , nor so ill advertised, as not to perceive the intention of the French king.
  • (obsolete) Not deep in tone.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • the sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring
  • (tennis) Not far forward, close to the net
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 28 , author=Jamie Jackson , title=Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=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

    (en noun)
  • A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
    • The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow .
  • * Francis Bacon
    • A swift stream is not heard in the channel, but upon shallows of gravel.
  • * Dryden
    • dashed on the shallows of the moving sand
  • A fish, the rudd.

    • Usage notes

    * Usually used in the plural form.

    See also

    * shoal * sandbar * sandbank

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make or become less deep
  • * {{quote-journal, 2009, date=February 6, Andrew Z. Krug et al., Signature of the End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction in the Modern Biota, Science citation
    • , passage=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

    *

    slight

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.
  • * (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
    • Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.
  • * (John Locke) (1632-1705)
    • Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
  • Not stout or heavy; slender.
  • * Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
    • his own figure, which was formerly so slight
  • (obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.
    • (Hudibras)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * slightish * slightly * slightness

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.
  • * Cowper
    • the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies
  • To treat with disdain or neglect.
  • To act negligently or carelessly.
  • (military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
    • (Clarendon)
  • To make even or level.
    • (Hexham)
  • To throw heedlessly.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The rogue slighted me into the river.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * slightingly

    Noun

    (wikipedia slight) (en noun)
  • The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
  • * (Benjamin Franklin)
    • Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
  • Sleight.
    • (Spenser)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * put a slight upon

    References

    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * lights