two-dimensional

American  

[too-di-men-shuh-nl, -dahy-] / ˈtu dɪˈmɛn ʃə nl, -daɪ- /

adjective

1. having the dimensions of height and width only.

   a two-dimensional surface.

2. (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.

3. (in a literary work) shallow, unconvincing, or superficial in execution.

   a novel having two-dimensional characters.

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two-dimensional British  

adjective

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

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

3. lacking in depth, as characters in a literary work

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

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Other Word Forms

• two-dimensionality noun
• two-dimensionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of two-dimensional

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

These ultra-thin, two-dimensional materials allowed researchers to watch melting unfold at the level of individual atoms.

From Science Daily

The breakthrough came when the team simplified the concept into a nearly two-dimensional structure.

From Science Daily

The nanoflowers are made from molybdenum disulfide, an inorganic compound that can form many different two-dimensional shapes at very small scales.

From Science Daily

Scientists have long known that electrons in thin, two-dimensional materials can solidify into Wigner crystals, a concept first proposed in 1934.

From Science Daily

The team made this discovery with a new experimental system that lets them directly observe how the superconducting gap forms in two-dimensional materials.

From Science Daily