SURFACE


Meaning of SURFACE in English

I. ˈsər-fəs 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 surface s

- on the surface

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

( sur·faced ; sur·fac·ing )

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

• sur·fac·er noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.