I. ˈsha-(ˌ)lō adjective
Etymology: Middle English schalowe; probably akin to Old English sceald shallow — more at skeleton
Date: 14th century
1. : having little depth
shallow water
2. : having little extension inward or backward
office buildings have taken the form of shallow slabs — Lewis Mumford
3.
a. : penetrating only the easily or quickly perceived
shallow generalizations
b. : lacking in depth of knowledge, thought, or feeling
a shallow demagogue
4. : displacing comparatively little air : weak
shallow breathing
Synonyms: see superficial
• shal·low·ly -lō-lē, -lə-lē adverb
• shal·low·ness noun
II. verb
Date: 1510
transitive verb
: to make shallow
intransitive verb
: to become shallow
III. noun
Date: 1569
: a shallow place or area in a body of water — usually used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.