surface

Pluralsurfaces

Formssurfaces, surfacing, surfaced

1. 1
   top sidenouncountable

   The top or outside part of something, like the top of a table or of water.

   Like the top of a pond where leaves float.

   The surface of the lake was perfectly still at dawn.

   Wipe the table's surface before you set the plates down.

   UsageSay on the surface, come up to the surface, and under the surface.

2. 2
   adjective

   On the outside or top of something, or only on the outside and not deep or real.

   The cut was only a surface wound, so it healed fast.

   The two plans have a few surface differences, but they are almost the same.

   UsagePut it before a noun (surface water). After a verb, say on the surface.

   Similarsuperficial, outward, external, outer

   Oppositedeep, underlying, inner

   Note
3. 3
   nounfigurativelycountable

   The way something looks from the outside, not what is really going on inside.

   Like still water that hides what moves below it.

   On the surface, everything seemed calm, but she was worried.

   He stayed polite on the surface while feeling angry inside.

   UsageUsually in on the surface, when what you see is different from what is true.

   Similarfacade, veneer, exterior, appearance, front

   Oppositedepth, reality

   Note
4. 4
   come to lightverbintransitive

   To appear or become known after being hidden or away for a time.

   Like something lost at the bottom of a lake floating back up.

   New details about the case began to surface online.

   Old photos sometimes surface years after they were lost.

   UsageThe thing that appears is the subject: news or old photos surface.

5. 5
   verbintransitive

   To come up to the top of the water.

   Like a cork popping up to the top of the water.

   The diver began to surface slowly to avoid getting sick.

   Whales must surface to breathe air.

   Similaremerge, rise

   Oppositedive, submerge, sink

6. 6
   geometrynouncountable

   A flat or curved two-dimensional shape studied in math.

   Like the thin skin of a balloon: it has area but almost no thickness.

   In class we learned how to find the area of a curved surface.

   A sphere's surface has no edges or corners.

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