cursory

/'kə:səri/

Thân thiện

A student gives the textbook a cursory glance before class.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Done quickly and without careful attention to detail: Describes an action that is performed rapidly, giving only superficial attention and not aiming for thoroughness.
   • Performed as a formality or routine, lacking depth or interest: Indicates something done merely to fulfill an obligation, without genuine engagement or care.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • He gave the report only a cursory reading before the meeting.
  • A cursory examination of the data revealed no obvious errors.
  • She answered with a cursory nod, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Advanced Usage

• "to give/pay cursory attention to something": to devote only minimal, superficial attention to something.
  • The manager paid only cursory attention to the safety protocols, which led to problems later.
• "a cursory knowledge/understanding": a very basic or shallow level of knowledge about a subject.
  • He has only a cursory understanding of the legal issues involved.

Variants and Related Words

• Cursorily (adverb): In a quick and superficial manner.
  • He glanced cursorily at the headlines.
• Cursoriness (noun): The quality of being cursory. (This form is rare in everyday use.)

Synonyms

• Perfunctory: Carried out with minimal effort or reflection, often as a duty.
• Superficial: Concerned only with the obvious or apparent; not profound or thorough.
• Hasty: Done with excessive speed or urgency, often implying a lack of care.
• Desultory: Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; half-hearted.

Antonyms

• Thorough: Executed with completeness and careful attention to detail.
• Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• Exhaustive: Comprehensive and complete; leaving nothing out.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A once-over: (Informal idiom) A quick, cursory inspection or examination.
  • He gave the car a quick once-over before buying it.
• To skim (through something): To read or look over something quickly to grasp the main ideas, not the details. (This is a verb with a similar meaning to the action described by "cursory").
  • I only had time to skim the document before the call.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. 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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• casual
• passing
• perfunctory