sur·face (sûr f s)n. 1. a. The outer or the topmost boundary of an object. b. A material layer constituting such a boundary. 2. Mathematics a. The boundary of a three-dimensional figure. b. The two-dimensional locus of points located in three-dimensional space. c. A portion of space having length and breadth but no thickness. 3. The superficial or external aspect: "a flamboyant, powerful confidence man who lives entirely on the surface of experience" (Frank Conroy). 4. An airfoil. adj. 1. Relating to, on, or at a surface: surface algae in the water. 2. Relating to or occurring on or near the surface of the earth. 3. a. Superficial. b. Apparent as opposed to real. v. sur·faced, sur·fac·ing, sur·fac·es v.tr. To provide with a surface or apply a surface to: surface a table with walnut; surface a road with asphalt. v.intr. Idiom: 1. To rise to the surface. 2. To emerge after concealment. 3. To work or dig a mine at or near the surface of the ground. on the surface To all intents and purposes; to all outward appearances: a soldier who, on the surface, appeared brave and patriotic. [French : sur-, above (from Old French; see sur-) + face, face (from Old French; see face).] |
surface [ˈsɜːfɪs]
n
1.
a. the exterior face of an object or one such face
b. (as modifier) surface gloss
2.
a. the area or size of such a face
b. (as modifier) surface measurements
3. material resembling such a face, with length and width but without depth
4.
a. the superficial appearance as opposed to the real nature
b. (as modifier) a surface resemblance
5. (Mathematics) Geometry
a. the complete boundary of a solid figure
b. a continuous two-dimensional configuration
6. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography)
a. the uppermost level of the land or sea
b. (as modifier) surface transportation
come to the surface to emerge; become apparent
on the surface to all appearances
vb
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. (Mining & Quarrying) (intr) Mining
a. to work at or near the ground surface
b. to wash surface ore deposits
5. (intr) to become apparent; emerge
6. (intr) Informal
a. to wake up
b. to get up
[from French, from sur on + face face, probably on the model of Latin superficies]
surfaceless adj
surfacer n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  surface - the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary; "there is a special cleaner for these surfaces"; "the cloth had a pattern of red dots on a white surface"bed - the flat surface of a printing press on which the type form is laid in the last stage of producing a newspaper or magazine or book etc. gameboard, board - a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games; "he got out the board and set up the pieces" face - the striking or working surface of an implement ground - (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting horizontal surface, level - a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line; "park the car on the level" Klein bottle - a closed surface with only one side; formed by passing one end of a tube through the side of the tube and joining it with the other end meniscus - (physics) the curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a vertical tube miter, mitre - the surface of a beveled end of a piece where a miter joint is made; "he covered the miter with glue before making the joint" Mobius strip - a continuous closed surface with only one side; formed from a rectangular strip by rotating one end 180 degrees and joining it with the other end plasterwork, plaster - a surface of hardened plaster (as on a wall or ceiling); "there were cracks in the plaster" projection screen, screen, silver screen - a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing side - an extended outer surface of an object; "he turned the box over to examine the bottom side"; "they painted all four sides of the house" skin - an outer surface (usually thin); "the skin of an airplane" spandrel, spandril - an approximately triangular surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal plane above them superficies - outer surface of an area or a body tread - the grooved surface of a pneumatic tire vertical surface - a surface that is vertical work surface - a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games |
| 2. | surface - the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object; "they skimmed over the surface of the water"; "a brush small enough to clean every dental surface"; "the sun has no distinct surface" interface - (chemistry) a surface forming a common boundary between two things (two objects or liquids or chemical phases) hard palate - the bony part of the roof of the mouth palate, roof of the mouth - the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities side, face - a surface forming part of the outside of an object; "he examined all sides of the crystal"; "dew dripped from the face of the leaf" celestial sphere, empyrean, firmament, heavens, vault of heaven, welkin, sphere - the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected end - the surface at either extremity of a three-dimensional object; "one end of the box was marked `This side up'" substratum, substrate - a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; "the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants" wavefront, wave front - (physics) an imaginary surface joining all points in space that are reached at the same instant by a wave propagating through a medium photosphere - the intensely luminous surface of a star (especially the sun) | |
| 3. | surface - the outermost level of the land or sea; "earthquakes originate far below the surface"; "three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water" layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another body of water, water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge" floor - the bottom surface of any lake or other body of water floor - the lower inside surface of any hollow structure; "the floor of the pelvis"; "the floor of the cave" geosphere, lithosphere - the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle | |
| 4. | surface - a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something; "it was not what it appeared to be on the surface" | |
| 5. | surface - information that has become public; "all the reports were out in the open"; "the facts had been brought to the surface" general knowledge, public knowledge - knowledge that is available to anyone | |
| 6. | surface - a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight aileron - an airfoil that controls lateral motion device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" elevator - the airfoil on the tailplane of an aircraft that makes it ascend or descend horizontal stabiliser, horizontal stabilizer, tailplane - the horizontal airfoil of an aircraft's tail assembly that is fixed and to which the elevator is hinged leading edge - forward edge of an airfoil rotary wing, rotor blade - the long airfoil that rotates to provide the lift that supports a helicopter in the air rudder - a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes spoiler - a hinged airfoil on the upper surface of an aircraft wing that is raised to reduce lift and increase drag spoiler - an airfoil mounted on the rear of a car to reduce lift at high speeds stabilizer - airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft trailing edge - the rear edge of an airfoil vertical tail - the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft wing - one of the horizontal airfoils on either side of the fuselage of an airplane | |
| Verb | 1. | surface - come to the surface ascend, go up - travel up, "We ascended the mountain"; "go up a ladder"; "The mountaineers slowly ascended the steep slope" emerge - come up to the surface of or rise; "He felt new emotions emerge" resurface - reappear on the surface |
| 2. | surface - put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface; "coat the cake with chocolate" gelatinize - coat with gelatin skim - coat (a liquid) with a layer stucco - coat with stucco; "stucco the ceiling" egg - coat with beaten egg; "egg a schnitzel" dredge - cover before cooking; "dredge the chicken in flour before frying it" soot - coat with soot refinish - give a new surface; "refinish the dining room furniture" brush on - apply with a brush; "Brush butter on the roast" resurface - cover with a new surface crumb - coat with bread crumbs; "crumb a cutlet" copper - coat with a layer of copper finish - provide with a finish; "The carpenter finished the table beautifully"; "this shirt is not finished properly" blacktop - coat with blacktop; "blacktop the driveway" foliate - coat or back with metal foil; "foliate glass" pave - cover with a material such as stone or concrete to make suitable for vehicle traffic; "pave the roads in the village" glaze - coat with a glaze; "the potter glazed the dishes"; "glaze the bread with eggwhite" tar - coat with tar; "tar the roof"; "tar the roads" cover - provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers" enrobe - provide with a coating; "enrobe the nuts with chocolate" render - coat with plastic or cement; "render the brick walls in the den" skimcoat - coat with a mixture of gypsum and spackle; "he skimcoated the drywall" paint - apply paint to; coat with paint; "We painted the rooms yellow" cement - cover or coat with cement grit - cover with a grit; "grit roads" plate - coat with a layer of metal; "plate spoons with silver" metal - cover with metal size - cover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance) platinize - coat with metallic platinum porcelainize - coat with porcelain or a porcelain-like surface zinc - coat or cover with zinc | |
| 3. |  surface - appear or become visible; make a showing; "She turned up at the funeral"; "I hope the list key is going to surface again"appear - come into sight or view; "He suddenly appeared at the wedding"; "A new star appeared on the horizon" | |
| Adj. | 1. | surface - on the surface; "surface materials of the moon" overhead - located or originating from above; "an overhead crossing" subsurface - beneath the surface; "subsurface materials of the moon" |
surface
noun
1. covering, face, exterior, side, top, skin, plane, facet, veneer, superficies (rare) The road surface had started breaking up.
3. façade, outward appearance, superficial appearance A much wider controversy was bubbling under the surface.
adjective
verb
2. appear, emerge, arise, come to light, crop up (informal), transpire, materialize The emotions will surface at some point in life.
3. get up, rise, awaken, get out of bed, waken, emerge What time do you surface?
on the surface at first glance, apparently, outwardly, seemingly, ostensibly, superficially, to all appearances, to the casual eye On the surface the elections appear to be democratic.
Translations
surface [ˈsɜːfɪs]
A. N
1. [of table, skin, lake, sun] → superficie f; [of road] → firme m
beneath or below the surface the box was buried two metres beneath or below the surface → la caja estaba enterrada a dos metros por debajo de la superficie
the tensions that simmer beneath or below the surface in our society → las tensiones que bullen por debajo de la superficie en nuestra sociedad
she appeared calm, but beneath or below the surface she was seething with rage → parecía estar tranquila pero en el fondo or por dentro hervía de rabia
to break the surface → romper la superficie
to be close to the surface (lit) → estar cerca de la superficie
her grief was still close to the surface → su dolor estaba todavía a flor de piel
ethnic tensions are never far from the surface → las tensiones étnicas siempre parece que están a punto de estallar
on the surface it seems that → a primera vista parece que ...
outer surface → capa f exterior or externa
to come or rise to the surface (lit) → salir a la superficie (fig) → aflorar(a la superficie)
these feelings may come or rise to the surface → estos sentimientos pueden aflorar(a la superficie)
under the surface = beneath the surface
upper surface → superficie f de la parte superior
to scratch or touch the surface (of sth) → arañar la superficie(de algo)
this book only scratches the surface of philosophical thought → este libro aborda el pensamiento filosófico sólo por encima → este libro sólo araña la superficie del pensamiento filosófico
see also work
beneath or below the surface the box was buried two metres beneath or below the surface → la caja estaba enterrada a dos metros por debajo de la superficie
the tensions that simmer beneath or below the surface in our society → las tensiones que bullen por debajo de la superficie en nuestra sociedad
she appeared calm, but beneath or below the surface she was seething with rage → parecía estar tranquila pero en el fondo or por dentro hervía de rabia
to break the surface → romper la superficie
to be close to the surface (lit) → estar cerca de la superficie
her grief was still close to the surface → su dolor estaba todavía a flor de piel
ethnic tensions are never far from the surface → las tensiones étnicas siempre parece que están a punto de estallar
on the surface it seems that → a primera vista parece que ...
outer surface → capa f exterior or externa
to come or rise to the surface (lit) → salir a la superficie (fig) → aflorar(a la superficie)
these feelings may come or rise to the surface → estos sentimientos pueden aflorar(a la superficie)
under the surface = beneath the surface
upper surface → superficie f de la parte superior
to scratch or touch the surface (of sth) → arañar la superficie(de algo)
this book only scratches the surface of philosophical thought → este libro aborda el pensamiento filosófico sólo por encima → este libro sólo araña la superficie del pensamiento filosófico
see also work
2. (Math, Geom)
2.1. (also surface area) → superficie f
2.2. (= side) [of solid] → cara f
C. VI
1. (lit) [swimmer, diver, whale] → salir a la superficie; [submarine] → emerger
D. CPD surface area N → área f (de la superficie)
surface fleet N → flota f de superficie
surface force N (Mil) → fuerza f de superficie
surface mail N by surface mail → por vía terrestre
surface temperature N → temperatura f en la superficie
surface tension N (Phys) → tensión f superficial
surface water N → agua f de la superficie
surface fleet N → flota f de superficie
surface force N (Mil) → fuerza f de superficie
surface mail N by surface mail → por vía terrestre
surface temperature N → temperatura f en la superficie
surface tension N (Phys) → tensión f superficial
surface water N → agua f de la superficie
surface [ˈsɜːrfɪs]
n
[earth, water, road, object] → surface f
little waves on the surface of the water → des vaguelettes à la surface de l'eau
little waves on the surface of the water → des vaguelettes à la surface de l'eau
(also work surface) → surface f de travail
He cleaned all the kitchen surfaces → Il nettoya toutes les surfaces de travail de la cuisine.
He cleaned all the kitchen surfaces → Il nettoya toutes les surfaces de travail de la cuisine.
(fig) → surface f
feelings that are well hidden beneath the surface → des sentiments bien cachés sous la surface
on the surface (in appearance) → en surface
feelings that are well hidden beneath the surface → des sentiments bien cachés sous la surface
on the surface (in appearance) → en surface
vt [+ road] → refaire
vi
[diver, submarine, whale] → faire surface
(= emerge) [problem, emotions, rumours, doubts] → refaire surface; [+ evidence] → faire surface
Such rumours have surfaced several times over the past ten years → Ces rumeurs ont refait surface plusieurs fois au cours des dix dernières années.
Such rumours have surfaced several times over the past ten years → Ces rumeurs ont refait surface plusieurs fois au cours des dix dernières années.
(= get out of bed) → émerger >
surface area n → surface f
surface mail n → courrier m par voie de surface
surface-to-air [ˌsɜːrfɪstəˈɛər] adj [missile] → sol-air inv
surface-to-surface [ˌsɜːrfɪstəˈsɜːrfɪs] adj [missile] → sol-sol inv
surface water n → eaux fpl de surface
surface area n → surface f
surface mail n → courrier m par voie de surface
surface-to-air [ˌsɜːrfɪstəˈɛər] adj [missile] → sol-air inv
surface-to-surface [ˌsɜːrfɪstəˈsɜːrfɪs] adj [missile] → sol-sol inv
surface water n → eaux fpl de surface
surface
surface:
n
(lit, fig) → Oberfläche f; (of road) → Decke f, → Belag m; on the surface it seems that … → oberflächlich sieht es so aus, als ob …; on the surface he is friendly enough → nach außen hin ist er sehr freundlich
(Math, of cube etc) → Fläche f
(Min) at/on/up to the surface → über Tage
(Aviat) → Tragfläche f
adj attr
(Min) worker, job → über Tage
vt
road → mit einem Belag versehen; wall → verblenden
submarine → auftauchen lassen
vi (lit, fig) → auftauchen
surface:
surface area
n → Fläche f; (Math) → Flächeninhalt m
surface dressing
surface grammar
n → Oberflächengrammatik f
surface-mounted
adj → oberflächenmontiert
surface noise
n → Rauschen nt
surface structure
n (Ling) → Oberflächenstruktur f
surface tension
n → Oberflächenspannung f
surface-to-air
adj attr → Boden-Luft-; surface missile → Boden-Luft-Rakete f
surface-to-surface
adj attr → Boden-Boden-; surface missile → Boden-Boden-Rakete f
surface vessel
n → Schiff nt (im Gegensatz zu Unterseeboot)
surface [ˈsɜːfɪs]
surface [ˈsɜːfɪs]
1. n (gen) → superficie f; (of road) → piano stradale
on the surface it seems that ... (fig) → superficialmente sembra che...
we've only scratched the surface (fig) (of argument, work) → abbiamo appena iniziato
on the surface it seems that ... (fig) → superficialmente sembra che...
we've only scratched the surface (fig) (of argument, work) → abbiamo appena iniziato
2. vt (road) → asfaltare
3. vi (submarine) → risalire in superficie (fig) (person, after absence) → farsi vivo/a; (from bed) → emergere
he surfaces in London occasionally → ogni tanto si fa vedere a Londra
he surfaces in London occasionally → ogni tanto si fa vedere a Londra
4. adj (Mil, Naut) → di superficie
surface [ˈsɜːfɪs]
1. n (gen) → superficie f; (of road) → piano stradale
on the surface it seems that ... (fig) → superficialmente sembra che...
we've only scratched the surface (fig) (of argument, work) → abbiamo appena iniziato
on the surface it seems that ... (fig) → superficialmente sembra che...
we've only scratched the surface (fig) (of argument, work) → abbiamo appena iniziato
2. vt (road) → asfaltare
3. vi (submarine) → risalire in superficie (fig) (person, after absence) → farsi vivo/a; (from bed) → emergere
he surfaces in London occasionally → ogni tanto si fa vedere a Londra
he surfaces in London occasionally → ogni tanto si fa vedere a Londra
4. adj (Mil, Naut) → di superficie
n surface [ˈsəːfis]
1 the outside part (of anything) Two-thirds of the earth's surface is covered with water; This road has a very uneven surface. oppervlak سَطْح خارِجي повърхност povrch overflade die Oberfläche επιφάνεια superficie pind سطح pinta surface שֶׁטַח חִיצוֹנִי ऊपरी तल površina, vanjska strana felület permukaan yfirborð superficie 表面 표면 paviršius virsma permukaan oppervlakte overflate; veidekke powierzchnia superfície suprafaţă поверхность povrch površje površina yta, utsida, ytskikt พื้นดินหรือพื้นน้ำ yüzey 表面 поверхня بیرونی حصہ bề ngoài,bề mặt 表面
2 the outward appearance of, or first impression made by, a person or thing On the surface he seems cold and unfriendly, but he's really a kind person. voorkoms مَظْهَر خارجي външност vnějšek overflade die Oberfläche εξωτερική όψη apariencia pealispind, pealtpoolt ظاهر ulkokuori apparence עַל פְּני הַשֶטַח बाहा रूप, उपरी रंग-रूप vanjština, spoljašnjost a külső pandangan luar yfirborð apparenza うわべ 겉보기 išorė, pirmas žvilgsnis virspuse; ārpuse zahirnya oppervlakte overflate, i det ytre wierzch, pozór aparência aparenţă внешность vonkajšok zunanjost spoljašnjost yta ภายนอก (dış) görünüş 外表 зовнішність; перше враження اوپری حالت mặt, mặt ngoài 外表
v
1 to put a surface on (a road etc) The road has been damaged by frost and will have to be surfaced again. herteer, herplavei يُغَطّي السَّطْح асфалтирам dát nový povrch få en ny belægning die Oberfläche behandeln επιστρώνω επιφάνεια (genérico) revestir; (calle) pavimentar, asfaltar pindama رويه كشيدن päällystää revêtir לְצַפּוֹת उतारना, ऊपर आना, सतह चढ़ाना prekriti, izravnati burkol memasang permukaan setja lag á, leggja (rifare il manto) 舗装する 표면작업을 하다 dėti dangą, padengti noklāt virsmu melapisi bestraten asfaltere, overflatebehandle pokrywać nawierzchnią pavimentar a pardosi отделывать поверхность pokryť, vyrovnať prevleči asfaltirati belägga, ytbehandla ทำให้เกลี้ยงเกลา yüzünü kaplamak 在...上加表面(鋪路面) укладати (дорогу); вкривати (покриттям) سڑک وغیرہ کی سطح کاری کرنا rải, trát 在...上加表面（铺路面）
2 (of a submarine, diver etc) to come to the surface. na die oppervlak kom يَصْعَد إلى السَّطْح изплувам vynořit se komme op til overfladen auftauchen αναδύομαι, έρχομαι στην επιφάνεια salir a la superficie veepinnale tõusma روي آب آمدن nousta pinnalle faire surface לַעֲלוֹת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָים प्रकट होना, चमकना, चौरस बनाना izroniti felmerül timbul ke permukaan koma upp á yfirborðið emergere 浮上する (잠함 등이) 수면위로 뜨오르다 išnirti į paviršių uznirt timbul ke permukaan opduiken dukke opp, komme opp til overflaten wypłynąć, wynurzyć się vir à superfície a ieşi la suprafaţă всплывать vynoriť sa priti na površje izroniti na površinu stiga upp till ytan โผล่ขึ้นมาที่พื้นผิว su yüzeyine çıkmak 露出水面 випливати на поверхню آبدوز وغیرہ کا اوپر آنا nổi lên mặt nước 露出水面
surface mail
mail sent by ship, train etc and not by aeroplane. landpos البَريد العادي поща obyčejná pošta almindelig post gewöhnliche Post ταχυδρομείο δια ξηράς ή θαλάσσης correo por vía terrestre/marítima maismaapost پست زميني pintaposti courrier de surface דוֹאָר רִגיל स्थल डाक obična (ne avionska) pošta vasúton, hajón szállított posta pos darat dan laut land– eða sjópóstur posta ordinaria/normale 普通郵便 (육상) 수송, 선박 우편물 paprastas paštas parasts pasta sūtījums pos darat dan laut landpost, zeepost overflatepost poczta zwykła correio normal corespondenţă de suprafaţă обычная почта obyčajná pošta navadna pošta kopnena pošta ytpost ไปรษณีย์ที่ขนส่งทางรถและเรือ adî posta 平郵(信) наземна пошта جہاز یا ٹرین وغیرہ سے بھیجی جانے والی ڈاک thư gửi bằng đường bộ hay đường biển 平邮（信）
surface → سَطح povrch overflade Oberfläche επιφάνεια superficie pinta surface površina superficie 表面 표면 oppervlak overflate powierzchnia superfície поверхность yta ผิวหน้า yüzey bề mặt 表面
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