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surficial

[ ser-fish-uhl ]

/ sərˈfɪʃ əl /

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adjective

of or relating to a surface, especially the land surface: a surficial geologic deposit.

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Origin of surficial

1890–95; blend of surface and superficial

OTHER WORDS FROM surficial

sur·fi·cial·ly, adverb

Words nearby surficial

surf duck, surfeit, surfer's knobs, surfer's knot, surffish, surficial, surfie, surfing, surfing music, surfing the Web, surf mat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use surficial in a sentence

Surficial, sur-fish′al, adj. formed on the surface, as opposed to Subterranean.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
My foot-rule, my rough scale plans and piled-up figures of cubic capacity and surficial area carried all before them.
A Floating Home|Cyril Ionides
The very use of the terms "secondary" and "primary" has suggested antithesis between surficial and deep ores.
The Economic Aspect of Geology|C. K. Leith
Mineral deposits of the "igneous after-effect" type may be profoundly altered through surficial agencies.
The Economic Aspect of Geology|C. K. Leith

The zinc oxide minerals in the surficial zone also are sometimes colored yellow by small amounts of greenockite.
The Economic Aspect of Geology|C. K. Leith