surface

Plural: surfaces

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"
• 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"
• the outermost level of the land or sea
  • "earthquakes originate far below the surface"
  • "three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water"
• a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something
  • "it was not what it appeared to be on the surface"
• information that has become public
  • "the facts had been brought to the surface"
• a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
• The overside or up-side of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.
• The outside hull of a tangible object.
• Outward or external appearance.
• The locus of an equation (especially one with exactly two degrees of freedom) in a space of more than two dimensions.
• The story or image suggested by a cryptic clue, when read as a whole sentence without considering wordplay.

Verb

Verb Forms: surfaced, surfacing, surfaces

• To apply an outer layer; to appear or become visible.
• come to the surface
• put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
• appear or become visible; make a showing
  • "I hope the list key is going to surface again"
• To provide with a surface; to apply a surface to.
• To rise to the surface.
• To bring to the surface.
• To come out of hiding.
• To become known or apparent; to appear or be found; to come to light.
• To make (information, facts, content, etc) known.
• To work a mine near the surface.

Adjective

• on the surface
  • "surface materials of the moon"

Examples

• A perfect bingo opportunity would often surface just when he needed it most.
• On the surface, the spy looked like a typical businessman.
• The crew surfaced the road with bitumen.
• There was great relief when the missing diver finally surfaced.

Synonyms

aerofoil, airfoil, coat, come on, come out, come up, control surface, Earth's surface, open, rise, rise up, show up, turn up, overside, superfice

Antonyms

overhead, subsurface

Related Words

surficial

Anagrams of surface