surface Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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
  2. noun 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
  3. noun the outermost level of the land or sea
    Earth's surface.
    • earthquakes originate far below the surface
    • three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water
  4. noun a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something
    • it was not what it appeared to be on the surface
  5. noun information that has become public
    open.
    • all the reports were out in the open
    • the facts had been brought to the surface
  6. noun a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
    control surface; airfoil; aerofoil.
  7. verb come to the surface
    rise; rise up; come up.
  8. verb put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
    coat.
    • coat the cake with chocolate
  9. verb appear or become visible; make a showing
    turn up; show up; come out; come on.
    • She turned up at the funeral
    • I hope the list key is going to surface again
  10. adjective on the surface
    • surface materials of the moon

WordNet

Sur"face` noun
Etymology
F. See Sur-, and Face, and cf. Superficial.
Definitions
  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 surface of a diamond; the surface of the body.
    The bright surface of this ethereous mold. Milton.
  2. Hence, outward or external appearance.
    Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface. V. Knox.
  3. (Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface.
  4. (Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion. Stocqueler.
Sur"face transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Surfaced ; present participle & verbal noun Surfacing
Definitions
  1. To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.
  2. To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting for gold.
Sur"face intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries.
  2. (a) To become known or public; -- said of information. (b) To show up, as a person who was in hiding.

Webster 1913