two-dimensional

[ too-di-men-shuh-nl, -dahy- ]

/ ˈtu dɪˈmɛn ʃə nl, -daɪ- /

adjective

having the dimensions of height and width only: a two-dimensional surface.

(of a work of art) having its elements organized in terms of a flat surface, especially emphasizing the vertical and horizontal character of the picture plane: the two-dimensional structure of a painting.

(in a literary work) shallow, unconvincing, or superficial in execution: a novel having two-dimensional characters.

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Origin of two-dimensional

First recorded in 1895–1900

OTHER WORDS FROM two-dimensional

two-di·men·sion·al·i·ty, nountwo-di·men·sion·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby two-dimensional

two-body problem, two-by-four, two-carbon fragment, two-color, two-cycle, two-dimensional, two-edged, two-faced, two-family house, two-fisted, two-fold

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for two-dimensional

In the past, her character has tended toward the two-dimensional: the chilly villainess.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 5 'First of His Name' Recap: An Ode to the Women of Westeros|Andrew Romano|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prince tries to avoid the two-dimensional in other areas as well.
New York’s Greatest Show Or How They Did Not Screw Up ‘Guys and Dolls’|Ross Wetzsteon|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She argued that these men and women were typically not psychopaths or two-dimensional monsters.
Inside the Nazi Mind at the Nuremberg Trials|Thomas Harding|September 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The two-dimensional photograph becomes 3-D where the artist has constructed a little ledge with rocks.
The Best Things to See at Frieze Art Fair NY 2013|Isabel Wilkinson|May 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Sometimes the flowers multiplied in shades of persimmon or turned into two-dimensional appliqué.
Miuccia Prada and Emporio Armani: Milan Spring 2013 Collections|Robin Givhan|September 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
You can see how utterly ridiculous it would be for you to try to attack a two-dimensional thing.
Hellhounds of the Cosmos|Clifford Donald Simak
Flat, two-dimensional slices of reality, without depth or motion.
Vanishing Point|C.C. Beck
Now we take an example of a two-dimensional continuum which is finite, but unbounded.
Sidelights on Relativity|Albert Einstein
The two-dimensional geometries of Riemann and Lobachevski are thus correlated to the Euclidean geometry.
The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method|Henri Poincar
This would be a two-dimensional diagram for colors having the same brightness.
Psychology|Robert S. Woodworth

British Dictionary definitions for two-dimensional

two-dimensional

adjective

of, having, or relating to two dimensions, usually describable in terms of length and breadth or length and height

lying on a plane; having an area but not enclosing any volume

lacking in depth, as characters in a literary work

(of painting or drawing) lacking the characteristics of form or depth

Derived forms of two-dimensional

two-dimensionality, nountwo-dimensionally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012