surface

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 two-dimensional locus of points (as the boundary of a three-dimensional region) <
plane surface
>
<
surface of a sphere
>
3. a. the external or superficial aspect of something <
trouble lurks below the surface
>
b. an external part or layer <
sanded the rough surfaces
>
II. adjective Date: 1642 1. a. of, located on, or designed for use at the surface of something b. situated, transported, or employed on the surface of the earth <
surface mail
>
<
surface vehicles
>
2. appearing to be such on the surface only ; superficial <
surface friendships
>
III. verb (surfaced; surfacing) Date: 1778 transitive verb 1. to give a surface to: as a. to plane or make smooth b. to apply the surface layer to <
surface a highway
>
2. to bring to the surface <
surface a sunken ship
>
intransitive verb 1. to work on or at the surface 2. to come to the surface 3. to come into public view ; show up <
letters that have recently surfaced
>
surfacer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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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