Meaning & use
two-dimensional
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparablemathematics
Having length and width but no thickness, like a flat drawing on paper.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a two-dimensional shape.
Patterns
- a two-dimensional shape
- two-dimensional image
A square is a two-dimensional shape.
The painting looks flat and two-dimensional.
The architect first drew a two-dimensional plan of the house.
adjectivecomparablefigurativedisapproving
Lacking depth or complexity, so that a character, argument or idea seems shallow and unconvincing.
Grammar: Used about people or ideas: a two-dimensional villain; more two-dimensional.
Patterns
- a two-dimensional character
- a two-dimensional portrayal
Critics found the villain two-dimensional and predictable.
The report gives a two-dimensional picture of a complex problem.
I wanted a hero with real flaws, not a two-dimensional saint.
Common combinations
- two-dimensional shape
- A circle is a two-dimensional shape.
- two-dimensional character
- The film suffers from a two-dimensional character at its center.
- two-dimensional image
- A photo is a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional scene.
- two-dimensional view
- A map gives a two-dimensional view of the land.
- seem two-dimensional
- The argument seems two-dimensional and ignores the facts.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flat
- Flat is the everyday word for a surface without thickness and also describes dull or lifeless writing.
- shallow
- Shallow criticizes a person or idea for lack of depth, but it does not suggest being drawn on a flat surface.
- one-dimensional
- One-dimensional is harsher still, implying a person or idea has only a single trait.
- simplistic
- Simplistic says something is made too simple, while two-dimensional says it lacks layers.
Opposites
Word family
- dimension noun
- a measurable extent such as length or width
- dimensional adjective
- relating to dimensions
- three-dimensional adjective
- having length, width and depth
- 2D abbreviation
- short form of two-dimensional
Commonly confused: two-dimensional or two-faced?
two-dimensional vs two-faced
Two-faced means insincere or deceitful, while two-dimensional means flat or lacking depth.
Practice
A critic says a film character is two-dimensional. What does she mean?
Choose one answer.
In its figurative sense, two-dimensional means lacking depth. Dishonest would be two-faced, and the other options are unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “two-dimensional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.