superficial similarity

collocation in English

meaningsofsuperficialandsimilarity

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withsimilarity.
superficial
adjective
uk
/ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/us
/ˌsuː.pɚˈfɪʃ.əl/
disapproving
(of a person) never thinking about things that are serious ...
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similarity
noun[C or U]
uk
/ˌsɪm.ɪˈlær.ə.ti/us
/ˌsɪm.əˈler.ə.t̬i/
the fact that people or things look or are ...
See more atsimilarity

(Definition ofsuperficialandsimilarityfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofsuperficial similarity

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
As is clear from the history of linguistics, thissuperficialsimilarityhas not been a serious problem for working out the relationships among these languages.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Despitesuperficialsimilarityto 1f, 2e represents, not a copula-plus-adjective construction, but a true passive, with the logical subject realized in a by-phrase.
From theCambridge English Corpus
There is asuperficialsimilaritybetween this and the idea of internal colonialism but really the approaches are distinct.
From theCambridge English Corpus
However, once again, asuperficialsimilarityin legal substance masked substantial differences in implementation processes and style.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Thesuperficialsimilarityis due to a relexification requirement, and does not in itself constitute sufficient evidence in favor of superstratum convergence.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Because of its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, especially turquoise because of thesuperficialsimilarityof the veining patterns.
From
Wikipedia
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Foul-gull is in reference to its stomach oil and also itssuperficialsimilarityto seagulls.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Despite thesuperficialsimilarity, the two dogs were different characters.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The common name refers to their resemblance to otters with their flat face and stiff whiskers, and the tenrecs' overallsuperficialsimilarityto true shrews.
From
Wikipedia
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Bigfin reef squids are characterised by a large oval fin that extends throughout the margins of its mantle, giving them asuperficialsimilarityto cuttlefish.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Thus, for example, the various families of land slugs are not closely related, despite asuperficialsimilarityin the overall body form.
From
Wikipedia
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But as it seems they are well distinct, the presumed close relationship being mistaken due to their larvae'ssuperficialsimilaritycaused by convergent evolution.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Moreover, molecular biology has taught us that superficial similarities in morphology can hide important differences in molecular architecture and biochemistry.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Despite superficial similarities the two movements followed quite different trajectories.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It is so named because of itssuperficialsimilarityto the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Coelophysoids were all slender, carnivorous forms with asuperficialsimilarityto the coelurosaurs, with which they were formerly classified, and some species had delicate cranial crests.
From
Wikipedia
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There are superficial similarities between our proposals and differences, which are important to state.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The new images have no similiarity, or only superficial similarities, to the reliable representations of the goddess.
From theCambridge English Corpus
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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