surface
9 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
surfaces
plural
surfaces
Britannica Dictionary definition of SURFACE
1
[count]
:
an outside part or layer of something
-
The painting's surface is covered with fine cracks.
-
The bowl has a shiny surface.
-
The surface of wood was rough.
-
Be careful of icy surfaces on the roads.
-
a textured surface
2
[count]
:
the upper layer of an area of land or water
— usually singular
-
Hot lava bubbled up to the Earth's surface.
-
exploring the surface of Mars
-
The pipes are buried deep below the surface.
-
The pond's surface was covered with leaves.
-
bubbles rose/floated to the surface (of the water)
3
[count]
:
the flat, top part of something (such as a table or desk) that you can work on
-
kitchen work surfaces
4
the surface
:
the part of someone or something that is easy to see or notice
:
the outer quality or appearance of someone or something that may not show true or hidden problems, feelings, etc.
-
On the surface the plan seems simple.
-
She seemed fine on the surface, but underneath, she was suffering.
-
Their relationship has a lot of problems simmering below/beneath/under the surface.
-
His true feelings lie close to the surface. [=they are easy to see]
-
The tension between them is beginning to rise to the surface. [=it is becoming easy to see]
5
[count]
:
a flat or curved side of an object
-
Each surface of the die is marked with one to six black dots.
scratch the surface
2
surface
/ˈsɚfəs/
verb
surfaces;
surfaced;
surfacing
2
surface
/ˈsɚfəs/
verb
surfaces;
surfaced;
surfacing
Britannica Dictionary definition of SURFACE
1
[no object]
:
to rise to the surface of water
-
The whale surfaced and then dove back down.
-
The submarine surfaced.
2
[no object]
:
to appear or become obvious after being hidden or not seen
-
The information surfaced many years later.
-
After several years, the actress surfaced in a comedy.
-
Suspicions eventually surfaced.
3
[+ object]
:
to put a surface on (something, such as a road)
-
The road needs to be surfaced again.
4
[no object]
chiefly British, informal
:
to wake up and get out of bed
-
She hasn't surfaced yet.
3
surface
/ˈsɚfəs/
adjective
3
surface
/ˈsɚfəs/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of SURFACE
always used before a noun
1
:
involving only the parts that are easy to see or notice
:
superficial
-
surface friendships
-
Despite the surface differences between the two candidates, they are very similar in most ways.
2
:
involving the removal of the surface of a large area of land to get at coal or other material that is near to the surface
-
surface mining
-
a surface mine
