surface

[sur-fis]

noun

1. the outer face, outside, or exterior boundary of a thing; outermost or uppermost layer or area.

2. any face of a body or thing.

   the six surfaces of a cube.

3. extent or area of outer face; superficial area.

4. the outward appearance, especially as distinguished from the inner nature.

   to look below the surface of a matter.

5. Geometry.,  any figure having only two dimensions; part or all of the boundary of a solid.

6. land or sea transportation, rather than air, underground, or undersea transportation.

7. Aeronautics.,  an airfoil.

adjective

1. of, on, or pertaining to the surface; external.

2. apparent rather than real; superficial.

   to be guilty of surface judgments.

3. of, relating to, or via land or sea.

   surface mail.

4. Linguistics.,  belonging to a late stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the surface structure.

verb (used with object)

surfaced, surfacing 

1. to finish the surface of; give a particular kind of surface to; make even or smooth.

2. to bring to the surface; cause to appear openly.

   Depth charges surfaced the sub. So far we've surfaced no applicants.

verb (used without object)

surfaced, surfacing 

1. to rise to the surface.

   The submarine surfaced after four days.

2. to work on or at the surface.

surface

/ ˈsɜːfɪs /

noun

1. 1. the exterior face of an object or one such face

   2. ( as modifier )

      surface gloss

2. 1. the area or size of such a face

   2. ( as modifier )

      surface measurements

3. material resembling such a face, with length and width but without depth

4. 1. the superficial appearance as opposed to the real nature

   2. ( as modifier )

      a surface resemblance

5. geometry

   1. the complete boundary of a solid figure

   2. a continuous two-dimensional configuration

6. 1. the uppermost level of the land or sea

   2. ( as modifier )

      surface transportation

7. to emerge; become apparent

8. to all appearances

verb

1. to rise or cause to rise to or as if to the surface (of water, etc)

2. (tr) to treat the surface of, as by polishing, smoothing, etc

3. (tr) to furnish with a surface

4. (intr) mining

   1. to work at or near the ground surface

   2. to wash surface ore deposits

5. (intr) to become apparent; emerge

6. informal,  (intr)

   1. to wake up

   2. to get up

Other Word Forms

• surfaceless adjective
• surfacer noun
• nonsurface noun
• unsurfaced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surface¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French; equivalent to sur- ¹ + face; apparently modeled on Latin superficies superficies

Word History and Origins

Origin of surface¹

C17: from French, from sur on + face _face , probably on the model of Latin _superficies

Idioms and Phrases

see on the surface; scratch the surface.

Example Sentences

An aerial photo taken in 2014 revealed the unmistakable layout of a church below the surface of the water.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The method begins with cleaning the tooth surface and then carefully removing only the enamel for testing.

Read more on Science Daily

Perseverance was dispatched to the Jezero Crater because it showed qualities that may have meant it was once conducive to life, including signs it was once a delta when Mars could sustain liquid surface water.

Read more on BBC

But the family trait was always going to surface.

Read more on BBC

But friction quickly surfaced after the first Americans arrived in Ahmedabad on June 15.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• area 
• expanse 
• exterior 
• facade 
• face 
• façade 
• level 
• side 
• skin 
• top