Words / C2

KURS-uh-ree/ˈkɜːsəri/

Cursory means hasty and not thorough, of a look or a check: a cursory glance, a cursory reading. Quick (already in the dictionary) is everyday speed; perfunctory (already in the dictionary) is done just to tick a box, the close twin of carelessness. Thorough (already in the dictionary) and scrupulous (already in the dictionary) are the opposite flavour. A skim of the appendix is not a filled n.

Meaning

Hasty and not thorough, of a look or a check.

Examples

• “A cursory glance at the appendix still left the n empty.”
• “Quick is everyday speed (already in A1). Perfunctory is a box-tick (already in C2). Thorough is careful and complete (already in B2). Scrupulous is carefully honest and exact (already in C2) — the contrast. A short methods line can still be complete. A skim that never states the cell is branding. Write the number or write that it is missing.”

Good to know

Hasty and not thorough. Everyday: quick (already in this dictionary). Close: perfunctory (already in C2). Contrast: thorough (already in B2); scrupulous (already in C2). A skim ≠ an n.

Near in meaning

hasty, perfunctory, superficial, sketchy

New