— surfaceless , adj. — surfacer , n.
/serr"fis/ , n., adj., v., surfaced, surfacing .
n.
1. the outer face, outside, or exterior boundary of a thing; outermost or uppermost layer or area.
2. any face of a body or thing: the six surfaces of a cube.
3. extent or area of outer face; superficial area.
4. the outward appearance, esp. as distinguished from the inner nature: to look below the surface of a matter.
5. Geom. any figure having only two dimensions; part or all of the boundary of a solid.
6. land or sea transportation, rather than air, underground, or undersea transportation.
7. Aeron. an airfoil.
adj.
8. of, on, or pertaining to the surface; external.
9. apparent rather than real; superficial: to be guilty of surface judgments.
10. of, pertaining to, or via land or sea: surface mail.
11. Ling. belonging to a late stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the surface structure.
v.t.
12. to finish the surface of; give a particular kind of surface to; make even or smooth.
13. to bring to the surface; cause to appear openly: Depth charges surfaced the sub. So far we've surfaced no applicants.
v.i.
14. to rise to the surface: The submarine surfaced after four days.
15. to work on or at the surface.
[ 1605-15; sur- SUR- 1 + face FACE, appar. modeled on L superficies SUPERFICIES ]