surface

surface
sur|face1 [ `sɜrfəs ] noun ***
1. ) count the top layer or outside part of something:
a smooth/rough/hard surface
Road surfaces are slick from the icy rain.
Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
a ) the top layer of water or land:
We saw fish swimming just under the surface of the water.
A farmer was spreading fertilizer over the surface of the soil.
the surface of Mars
2. ) count a flat area of a desk, table, etc. that you use for working on:
Papers and books covered the surface of the desk.
All counter surfaces in the kitchen should be carefully cleaned.
a ) a flat area used for playing sports, or the material used for making this area:
Many tennis players dislike the grass surface at Wimbledon.
a new playing surface that is expected to replace Astroturf
3. ) singular the way someone or something looks or seems while their true feeling or character remains hidden:
Underneath his cool surface was a growing sense of insecurity.
beneath the surface: Hostility lies beneath the surface of calm in the region.
on the surface: On the surface, they looked like a happily married couple.
a ) the aspect of someone's inner feeling that they show in their behavior or appearance:
He could feel his frustration and rage rising to the surface.
4. ) count TECHNICAL one of the sides of an object:
A cube has six surfaces.
surface
sur|face 2 [ `sɜrfəs ] verb
1. ) 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.
a ) to appear after being lost or hidden:
After being missing for two months, the girl surfaced on the west coast.
2. ) intransitive to rise up to or appear at the surface of water:
The divers were forced to surface after their equipment was damaged.
3. ) transitive to put a surface on a road, especially to make it smoother
surface
sur|face 3 [ `sɜrfəs ] 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 truer feelings or conditions:
A surface calm settled over the troubled city.
3. ) traveling on the surface of land or water, rather than through the air:
surface transportation

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
, , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — 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 — 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 — This article discusses surfaces from the point of view of topology. For other uses, see Differential geometry of surfaces, algebraic surface, and Surface (disambiguation). An open surface with X , Y , and Z contours shown. In mathematics,… …   Wikipedia

  • surface — I. noun Etymology: French, from Middle French, from sur + face face, from Old French more at face Date: circa 1600 1. the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body < on the surface of the water > < the earth s surface > 2. a plane or curved …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • SURFACE — n. f. Superficie, partie extérieure d’un corps, ce qui le limite dans l’espace. Surface plate, unie, raboteuse. La surface de la terre. La surface de l’eau. Une surface plane. Une surface concave. Une surface convexe. Mesures de surface. SURFACE… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

  • SURFACE — s. f. Superficie, l extérieur, le dehors d un corps. Surface plate, unie, raboteuse. La surface de la terre. La surface de l eau. Une surface plane. Une surface concave. Une surface convexe. Cela présente une belle surface. Une grande surface de… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • Surface — Seriendaten Deutscher Titel Surface – Unheimliche Tiefe Originaltitel Surface …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • surface — See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • surface — See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Surface science — is the study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid liquid interfaces, solid gas interfaces, solid vacuum interfaces, and liquid gas interfaces. It includes the fields of surface chemistry… …   Wikipedia

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