surface
pronunciation
How to pronounce surface in British English:
UK [ˈsɜːfɪs]
How to pronounce surface in American English:
US [ˈsɜːrfɪs]
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- Noun:
- the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
- the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object
- the outermost level of the land or sea
- a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something
- information that has become public
- a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
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- Verb:
- come to the surface
- put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
- appear or become visible; make a showing
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- Adjective:
- on the surface
- involving a surface only
Word Origin
- surface
- surface: [17] Surface was coined in French on the model of Latin superficiēs ‘surface’ (source of English superficial). It contains the same elements: sur- ‘above’ (a descendant of Latin super) and face ‘face’.=> face, superficial
- surface (v.)
- "come to the surface," 1898, from surface (n.). Earlier it meant "bring to the surface" (1885), and "to give something a (polished) surface" (1778). Related: Surfaced; surfacing.
- surface (n.)
- 1610s, from French surface "an outermost boundary, outside part" (16c.), from Old French sur- "above" (see sur-) + face (see face (n.)). Patterned on Latin superficies "surface, upper side, top" (see superficial). As an adjective from 1660s.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Lightly rake the surface once more .
- 2. Six mountainous regions make up about one-third percent of the venusian surface .
- 3. Hatched tadpoles swimming to the surface from frogspawn .
- 4. Mars and earth have the same land surface area .
- 5. They are not loaded but create a compensating surface .