SURFACE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does surface mean? 

• SURFACE (noun)
  The noun SURFACE has 6 senses:

1. the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

2. the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object

3. the outermost level of the land or sea

4. a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something

5. information that has become public

6. a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight

  Familiarity information: SURFACE used as a noun is common.

• SURFACE (adjective)
  The adjective SURFACE has 1 sense:

1. on the surface

  Familiarity information: SURFACE used as an adjective is very rare.

• SURFACE (verb)
  The verb SURFACE has 3 senses:

1. come to the surface

2. put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface

3. appear or become visible; make a showing

  Familiarity information: SURFACE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SURFACE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the cloth had a pattern of red dots on a white surface

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):

meniscus ((physics) the curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a vertical tube)

work surface (a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games)

vertical surface (a surface that is vertical)

tread (the grooved surface of a pneumatic tire)

superficies (outer surface of an area or a body)

spandrel; spandril (an approximately triangular surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal plane above them)

skin (an outer surface (usually thin))

side (an extended outer surface of an object)

projection screen; screen; silver screen (a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing)

plaster; plasterwork (a surface of hardened plaster (as on a wall or ceiling))

Mobius strip (a continuous closed surface with only one side; formed from a rectangular strip by rotating one end 180 degrees and joining it with the other end)

miter; mitre (the surface of a beveled end of a piece where a miter joint is made)

Klein bottle (a closed surface with only one side; formed by passing one end of a tube through the side of the tube and joining it with the other end)

horizontal surface; level (a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line)

ground ((art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting)

face (the striking or working surface of an implement)

board; gameboard (a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games)

bed (the flat surface of a printing press on which the type form is laid in the last stage of producing a newspaper or magazine or book etc.)

Derivation:

surface (put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Context example:

the sun has no distinct surface

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

bound; boundary; bounds (the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):

palate; roof of the mouth (the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities)

photosphere (the intensely luminous surface of a star (especially the sun))

wave front; wavefront ((physics) an imaginary surface joining all points in space that are reached at the same instant by a wave propagating through a medium)

substrate; substratum (a surface on which an organism grows or is attached)

exterior; outside (the outer side or surface of something)

inside; interior (the inner or enclosed surface of something)

celestial sphere; empyrean; firmament; heavens; sphere; vault of heaven; welkin (the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected)

face; side (a surface forming part of the outside of an object)

end (the surface at either extremity of a three-dimensional object)

hard palate (the bony part of the roof of the mouth)

interface ((chemistry) a surface forming a common boundary between two things (two objects or liquids or chemical phases))

Derivation:

surface (come to the surface)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The outermost level of the land or sea

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

Earth's surface; surface

Context example:

three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

layer (a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another)

Meronyms (parts of "surface"):

body of water; water (the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean))

gap; opening (an open or empty space in or between things)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):

floor (the bottom surface of any lake or other body of water)

floor (the lower inside surface of any hollow structure)

Holonyms ("surface" is a part of...):

geosphere; lithosphere (the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle)

Derivation:

surface (come to the surface)

surficial (pertaining to or occurring on or near the earth's surface)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

it was not what it appeared to be on the surface

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

aspect; facet (a distinct feature or element in a problem)

Derivation:

surface (come to the surface)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Information that has become public

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

open; surface

Context example:

the facts had been brought to the surface

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

general knowledge; public knowledge (knowledge that is available to anyone)

Derivation:

surface (appear or become visible; make a showing)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

aerofoil; airfoil; control surface; surface

Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Meronyms (parts of "surface"):

leading edge (forward edge of an airfoil)

trailing edge (the rear edge of an airfoil)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):

elevator (the airfoil on the tailplane of an aircraft that makes it ascend or descend)

aileron (an airfoil that controls lateral motion)

wing (one of the horizontal airfoils on either side of the fuselage of an airplane)

vertical tail (the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft)

stabilizer (airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft)

spoiler (an airfoil mounted on the rear of a car to reduce lift at high speeds)

spoiler (a hinged airfoil on the upper surface of an aircraft wing that is raised to reduce lift and increase drag)

rudder (a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes)

rotary wing; rotor blade (the long airfoil that rotates to provide the lift that supports a helicopter in the air)

horizontal stabiliser; horizontal stabilizer; tailplane (the horizontal airfoil of an aircraft's tail assembly that is fixed and to which the elevator is hinged)

flap; flaps (a movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing; used to increase lift or drag)

• SURFACE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

On the surface

Context example:

surface materials of the moon

Similar:

aboveground (on or above the surface of the ground)

grade-constructed (constructed at ground level)

opencast; opencut ((of mines and mining) worked from the exposed surface)

Antonym:

overhead (located or originating from above)

subsurface (beneath the surface)

• SURFACE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come to the surface

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

come up; rise; rise up; surface

Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):

ascend; go up (travel up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surface"):

emerge (come up to the surface of or rise)

resurface (reappear on the surface)

bubble up; intumesce (move upwards in bubbles, as from the effect of heating; also used metaphorically)

swell; well (come up, as of a liquid)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

surface (a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something)

surface (the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object)

surface (the outermost level of the land or sea)

surfacing (emerging to the surface and becoming apparent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

coat; surface

Context example:

coat the cake with chocolate

Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surface"):

cement (cover or coat with cement)

pave (cover with a material such as stone or concrete to make suitable for vehicle traffic)

paint (apply paint to; coat with paint)

skimcoat (coat with a mixture of gypsum and spackle)

render (coat with plastic or cement)

daub; plaster (coat with plaster)

enrobe (provide with a coating)

tar (coat with tar)

glaze (coat with a glaze)

seal; varnish (cover with varnish)

grit (cover with a grit)

plate (coat with a layer of metal)

metal (cover with metal)

macadamise; macadamize; tarmac (surface with macadam)

size (cover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance))

metalize; metallize (coat with metal)

platinize (coat with metallic platinum)

porcelainize (coat with porcelain or a porcelain-like surface)

zinc (coat or cover with zinc)

rubber; rubberise; rubberize (coat or impregnate with rubber)

foliate (coat or back with metal foil)

anodise; anodize (coat a metal with an oxide coat)

gelatinize (coat with gelatin)

skim (coat (a liquid) with a layer)

stucco (coat with stucco)

egg (coat with beaten egg)

encrust; incrust (cover or coat with a crust)

dredge (cover before cooking)

soot (coat with soot)

refinish (give a new surface)

brush on (apply with a brush)

patinate; patinise; patinize (coat with a patina)

resurface (cover with a new surface)

crumb (coat with bread crumbs)

copper (coat with a layer of copper)

finish (provide with a finish)

bonderise; bonderize (coat with a substance that will prevent corrosion)

blacktop (coat with blacktop)

galvanise; galvanize (cover with zinc)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

surface (the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Appear or become visible; make a showing

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

come on; come out; show up; surface; turn up

Context example:

I hope the list key is going to surface again

Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):

appear (come into sight or view)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

surface (information that has become public)

 Context examples 

But the time was long to him, and he looked at the reflection of his face on the surface of the water.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

On the other hand, we brought to the surface an object of a most unexpected kind.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is also expressed on the surface of most melanomas.

(Melan-A, NCI Thesaurus)

It was smooth, like the surface of a dish, and higher than their heads.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

They were running over the surface of a world frozen and dead.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I am a straw upon the surface of the deep, and am tossed in all directions by the elephants—I beg your pardon; I should have said the elements.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They could never bring him to the surface.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The wind blew the air clear again, but no patch of sail broke the troubled surface.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface.

(Membrane, NCI Dictionary)

But all the surface of the waste looked level.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)