surface

surface
I UK [ˈsɜː(r)fɪs] / US [ˈsɜrfəs] noun
Word forms "surface":
singular surface plural surfaces
***
1)
a) [countable] the top layer or outside part of something

Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

a smooth/rough/hard surface

Road surfaces are slippery from the icy rain.

b) the top layer of water or land

the surface of Mars

We saw fish swimming just under the surface of the water.

A farmer was spreading fertilizer over the surface of the soil.

2)
a) [countable] a flat area of a desk, table etc that you use for working on

Papers and books covered the surface of the desk.

All surfaces in the kitchen should be carefully cleaned.

b) a flat area used for playing sports, or the material used for making this area

Many tennis players dislike the grass surface at Wimbledon.

His favourite surface is clay.

3)
a) [singular] the way that someone or something looks or seems while their true feeling or character remains hidden

Underneath his cool surface was a growing sense of insecurity.

on the surface:

On the surface, they looked like a happily married couple.

beneath the surface:

Hostility lies beneath the surface of calm in the region.

b) the aspect of someone's inner feeling that they show in their behaviour or appearance

He could feel his frustration and rage rising to the surface.

4) [countable] maths one of the sides of an object

A cube has six surfaces.


II UK [ˈsɜː(r)fɪs] / US [ˈsɜrfəs] verb
Word forms "surface":
present tense I/you/we/they surface he/she/it surfaces present participle surfacing past tense surfaced past participle surfaced
1)
a) [intransitive] to become known or obvious after being hidden

In the aftermath of the trial, charges of corruption have begun to surface.

New information about the murder is slowly surfacing.

b) to appear after being lost or hidden

After being missing for two months, the girl surfaced in Northumberland.

2) [intransitive] to rise up to, or to appear at, the surface of water

The divers were forced to surface after their equipment was damaged.

3) [intransitive] British humorous to get out of bed, especially after sleeping for a long time

Don't expect Jennifer to surface before noon.

4) [transitive] to put a surface on a road, especially to make it smoother

III UK [ˈsɜː(r)fɪs] / US [ˈsɜrfəs] adjective [only before noun]
1) affecting, existing on, or used on a surface

The boating accident caused only surface damage.

a rough surface texture

the surface temperature of the lake

2) a surface quality seems to exist in someone or something, but in fact it hides deeper or more real feelings or conditions

A surface calm settled over the troubled city.

3) travelling on the surface of land or water, rather than through the air

surface transport/mail


English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • surface — [ syrfas ] n. f. • 1611; superface 1521; lat. superficies → superficie; de sur et face 1 ♦ Partie extérieure (d un corps), qui le limite en tous sens. ⇒ face. La surface de la Terre, la surface terrestre. À la surface du sol. « une surface pure… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Surface — Sur face , n. [F. See {Sur }, and {Face}, and cf. {Superficial}.] 1. The exterior part of anything that has length and breadth; one of the limits that bound a solid, esp. the upper face; superficies; the outside; as, the surface of the earth; the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surface — [sʉr′fis] n. [Fr < sur (see SUR 1) + face,FACE, based on L superficies] 1. a) the outer face, or exterior, of an object b) any of the faces of a solid c) the area or extent of such a face …   English World dictionary

  • surface — 1610s, from Fr. surface outermost boundary of anything, outside part (16c.), from O.Fr. sur above + face (see FACE (Cf. face)). Patterned on L. superficies surface (see SUPERFICIAL (Cf. superficial)). The verb meaning come to the surface is first …   Etymology dictionary

  • surface — ► NOUN 1) the outside part or uppermost layer of something. 2) the upper limit of a body of liquid. 3) outward appearance as distinct from less obvious aspects. ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to or occurring on the surface. 2) (of transportation) by sea …   English terms dictionary

  • Surface — Sur face, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surfaced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surfacing}.] 1. To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain. [1913 Webster] 2. To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surface — [adj] external apparent, covering, depthless, exterior, facial, outer, outside, outward, shallow, shoal, superficial, top; concepts 485,583 Ant. central, core, inside, interior, middle surface [n] external part of something area, cover, covering …   New thesaurus

  • surface — Surface. subst. f. L exterieur, le dehors d un corps. Surface platte, unie, raboteuse. la surface de la terre …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Surface — Sur face, v. i. 1. To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries. [PJC] 2. To become known or public; said of information. [PJC] 3. To show up, as a person who was in hiding; as, he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Surface — (fr., spr. Sürfahs), die Oberfläche …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • surface — index bare, cursory, dimension, emerge, issue (send forth), ostensible, side, superficial …   Law dictionary

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