two-dimensionaladj.
/ˌtuːdʌɪˈmɛnʃn̩(ə)l/, /ˌtuːdʌɪˈmɛnʃən(ə)l/, /ˌtuːdᵻˈmɛnʃn̩(ə)l/, /ˌtuːdᵻˈmɛnʃən(ə)l/, U.S. /ˌtudəˈmɛn(t)ʃ(ə)nəl/, /ˌtudaɪˈmɛn(t)ʃ(ə)nəl/ 1. Having or appearing to have length and breadth but no depth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [adjective] > of two dimensions
two-dimensional1883
bidimensional1927
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > geometric space > [adjective] > of dimensions > of specific number of
tri-dimensional1858
four-dimensional1866
one-dimensional1876
three-dimensional1878
four-dimensioned1880
two-dimensional1883
two-dimensioned1885
1883 American VII. 75 We can, I think, conceive of space as being two or even one dimensional.
1898 Sir W. Crookes in Daily News 8 Sept. 6/3 I was like some two-dimensional being who might stand at the singular point of a Riemann's surface, and thus find himself in..inexplicable contact with a plane of existence not his own.
1954 M. Rickert Painting in Brit.: Middle Ages viii. 201 Two-dimensional compositions for glass panels.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 8 Without realising what effect they will have when translated into a two-dimensional design.
2. figurative. Lacking depth or substance; shallow, superficial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > substantiality or concreteness > unsubstantiality or abstractness > [adjective] > superficial
thin?c1225
superficialc1456
shallowc1595
superficiary1605
eccentric1633
outside1644
tenuious1656
swimminga1680
outwarda1682
two-dimensional1934
1934 C. Lambert Music Ho! v. 310 It is possible to detach Stravinsky's methods from their contents and apply Stravinsky scoring to any piece of music. Like everything else in his music, it is two-dimensional.
1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 9 Oct. 573/4 By comparison Heart to Heart seems both shallow and hollow, a two-dimensional manufactured thing for an obvious mass market.
1977 Broadcast 7 Nov. 13/1 ‘Hard Times’..is less a novel than..a strip cartoon with two-dimensional characters.
Derivatives
two-dimensionality n. the property of being two-dimensional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] > a) dimension(s) > property of having two dimensions
two-dimensionality1926
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > geometric space > [noun] > being of specific number of dimensions
tridimensionality1894
three-dimensionality1926
two-dimensionality1926
1926 H. Read Eng. Stained Glass i. 11/1 Two-dimensionality. No attempt is made to put the scene in strict spatial perspective.
1956 Ess. in Crit. 6 219 The two-dimensionality of the canvases.
1975 I. Stewart Concepts Mod. Math. ii. 22 It is a consequence of the two-dimensionality of the plane that any rigid motion is uniquely specified by what it does to a (non-degenerate) triangle.
two-dimensionally adv. in, or in terms of, two dimensions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [adverb] > specific
tridimensionally1919
multidimensionally1946
three-dimensionally1958
two-dimensionally1961
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > geometric space > [adverb]
scenographically1659
linearly1851
dimensionally1888
tridimensionally1919
three-dimensionally1958
two-dimensionally1961
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Two-dimensionally.
1968 Jrnl. Physical Soc. Japan 25 934/1 The computations were made two-dimensionally.
1978 Spectator (New Canaan High School, Connecticut) 65 The world has become two-dimensionally black and white.
1979 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts July 509/1 The criticisms..that Ruskin saw architecture only two-dimensionally, and that he never seems to have looked at a building structurally, are refuted with ample quotations.
two-dimensionalness n. (rare).
ΚΠ
1958 S. Spender Engaged in Writing 116 Her general two-dimensionalness permitted her to appear different on each side.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adj.1883