cur ‧ so ‧ ry /ˈkɜːs ə ri $ ˈkɜːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: cursorius 'of running' , from Latin currere ; ⇨ ↑ current 1 ]
done very quickly without much attention to details
cursory glance/look
Even a cursory glance at the figures will tell you that sales are down.
cursory examination/inspection
a cursory examination of the evidence
—cursorily adverb
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THESAURUS
▪ quick taking only a short time to do something:
I took a quick look at the map.
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Do I have time for a quick shower before we go out?
▪ short lasting only a short time:
You can do a short course in diving.
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The meeting was shorter than I’d expected.
▪ brief especially written lasting only a short time. Brief is more formal than short , and is used especially in written English:
The President made a brief visit to Buenos Aires.
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a brief introduction to Piaget’s ideas
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a brief pause in the rain
▪ rapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc:
a rapid increase in crime
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the rapid rate of industrial development
▪ speedy happening or done as quickly as possible, especially so that you get the result that you want:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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The restoration work has been making speedy progress.
▪ prompt done very soon after something else:
Thank you for your prompt reply.
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the prompt action of the firefighters
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Discounts will be offered for prompt payment.
▪ hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results:
It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted.
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They had to make a hasty departure.
▪ cursory formal looking at something very quickly without much attention to detail:
Even a cursory glance at these figures shows that there is a problem.
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The police conducted a cursory search of the property.