We can quote dictionary.com, etc. all day long. What matters is how appearance is defined in the world of KCBS judging. While there are different interpretations of everything, here is one reference that applies to this specific circumstance.
This is from a transcript of Ed Roith's KCBS Judging class...
Considering that we are talking about KCBS judging in this thread, this is good enough for me. Appearance in this instance is defined as sight, not smell, touch or any other sense.
This is from a transcript of Ed Roith's KCBS Judging class...
and...Scoring appearance
[0:10:31] When it comes to the table and they open that container and you look at it, remember that this is a meat contest. You are judging the meat. If that meat looks so appetizing and looks so mouth-watering that you cannot wait to get into it, that to me would be a nine. But if it looks like it was just thrown into the container in no special order, arranged very sloppily, and you were out at a restaurant, you'd say "Gee, I've heard so much about this place. They don't care how they present it," then that way, you would judge down accordingly. Because if there is no care taken, then presentation doesn't mean too much, does it?
[0:11:10] So it is in the eye of the beholder, as far as presentation is concerned.
The emphasis is mine.Chicken appearance
[0:16:53] Now another thing that you may see in presentation is when chicken comes in.
See six pieces when scoring appearance
[0:17:00] Here is where we may run into a little problem sometimes, in convincing a cook that there must be six identifiable pieces in the container.
[0:17:14] I've seen cooks take half a chicken, lay it in the container, lift up the skin, cut the breast portion only into six pieces, lay the skin back over it, put it into the container, because it looks nice as a half a chicken.
[0:17:29] Well remember, you as a judge cannot touch that meat to turn it, to look at it, or even smell it, until it gets on your judging plate (which you will have today to put the meat on).
Considering that we are talking about KCBS judging in this thread, this is good enough for me. Appearance in this instance is defined as sight, not smell, touch or any other sense.