slightly smooth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly smooth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a texture or surface that has a minor degree of smoothness, often in a comparative context. Example: "The fabric felt slightly smooth against my skin, making it comfortable to wear."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

François Bizot's retrospective thoughts, contained in that initial quotation, slightly smooth over his shattering encounter with the Khmer Rouge commander who treated him with strange sympathy yet went on to take charge of one of the most terrible of the Cambodian killing fields.

The New York Times - Books

SEM images showed that the particles were of size 96 129 μm and had slightly smooth to rough textured surface.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

A recent work of [10] exploits the Gaussian mixture models to separate the rain streaks, achieving the state-of-the-art performance, however, still with slightly smooth background.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

In the following, we could see that the geometry property of the strong edge can by analyzed by the structure tensor: J 0 = ∇ u σ ⊗ ∇ u σ T, where uσ = Gσ *u is the slightly smooth version image by convolving u with Gauss kernel G σ.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The original structure tensor was proposed by Cottete and Germain [13], i.e., the tensor product of the gradient: J 0 = ∇ u σ ⊗ ∇ u σ T, where u σ = G σ *u is the slightly smooth version image by convolving u with Gauss kernel G σ.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The first step was to slightly smooth down the prosthesis' skin to open up the pores.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It's an equivalent experience, just slightly smoother".

The Guardian - Tech

Split peas will give a slightly smoother dhal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Metroliner had a slightly smoother ride and more legroom.

The New York Times - Travel

Who in your photographs won't thank you for slightly smoother, blemish-free skin?

The New York Times

This is a slightly smoother, more sentimental show, with bigger notes and a more transparent emotional path.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical textures, use "slightly smooth" to indicate a surface that is not perfectly even but has a degree of refinement, such as "The wood had a "slightly smooth" finish after sanding".

Common error

Avoid combining "slightly smooth" with adjectives that already imply a high degree of smoothness. For example, saying 'slightly polished' might be redundant if the context already suggests a high level of refinement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly smooth" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies nouns by indicating a mild degree of evenness or refinement. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its usage in describing textures of physical objects and effects of processes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly smooth" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered adjective phrase used to describe surfaces with a mild degree of evenness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, with examples showing its prevalence in scientific and news contexts. While not overly common, it offers a precise way to convey a nuanced sensory description, distinguishing it from both rough and perfectly even textures. Related phrases such as "somewhat even" and "mildly polished" offer similar but slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat even

Emphasizes the uniformity or regularity of a surface or texture, rather than its tactile quality.

gently refined

Implies a delicate improvement in texture or quality.

mildly polished

Suggests a surface that has undergone a light refining process.

faintly sleek

Highlights a subtle elegance or sophistication in the texture.

subtly leveled

Focuses on the reduction of irregularities in height or surface.

barely softened

Indicates a minimal reduction in roughness or harshness.

moderately textured

Suggests a surface that is not completely smooth but has a manageable texture.

relatively unblemished

Highlights the absence of significant imperfections.

almost seamless

Focuses on the near absence of joints or transitions.

reasonably uniform

Emphasizes the consistency of a surface or quality across an area.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly smooth" in a sentence?

Use "slightly smooth" to describe a surface that has some texture but is generally even, for example, "The stone had a "slightly smooth" surface, indicating it had been weathered over time".

What are some alternatives to "slightly smooth"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat even", "mildly polished", or "gently refined" to convey a similar meaning depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a little smooth" instead of "slightly smooth"?

While "a little smooth" is understandable, "slightly smooth" is generally preferred for its more formal and precise tone. "a little smooth" may be more appropriate in informal conversation.

What is the difference between "slightly smooth" and "completely smooth"?

"Slightly smooth" implies that there is some degree of texture or imperfection, while "completely smooth" suggests a surface that is perfectly even and without any irregularities. They describe surfaces at opposing ends of the smoothness spectrum.