Pronunciations (6)
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/ˈsɜː.fɪs/
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/ˈsɜː.fəs/
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/ˈsɝ.fɪs/
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/ˈsɝ.fəs/
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ˈsɜːfɪs
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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ˈsɝːfəs
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
The external boundary of an object or body.
The overside or upside of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.
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More examples (1)
A very neat old woman, still in her good outdoor coat and best beehive hat, was sitting at a polished mahogany table on whose surface there were several scored scratches so deep that a triangular piece of the veneer had come cleanly away,[…].
Use the lowest light level required. Be mindful of surface conditions, as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than was intended.
The outside hull of a tangible object.
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More examples (1)
Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything.
[The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across.
Outward or external appearance.
Usage- Figurative
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On the surface, the spy looked like a typical businessman.
More examples (2)
Such characters as have nothing but external accompliſhments to recommend them, may indeed be greatly admired and approved by vain and weak underſtandings, which penetrate no deeper than the ſurface; but they are deſpiſed by all the truly ſenſible, and pitied by all the truly good.
“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable,[…].
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.
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The surface is clearly about people like you and me, those whose better days are behind us and who now shop at M&S.
More examples (2)
If you are fooled by the surface you start thinking about internet browsers. But in this case it deviously refers to an animal that feeds by browsing, which is a longer standing use of the word.
This clue with a booze-related surface uses “sandwich” wordplay, with an insertion of P from “priceless” into “lean to”, which the Oxford Dictionary of English lists as an alternative to “lean towards”, meaning the same as “incline to”.
A portion of the display to which graphics can be rendered.
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The video player algorithm requires a target surface.
Verb
To provide with a surface; to apply a surface to.
Usage- Transitive
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The crew surfaced the road with bitumen.
To rise to the surface.
Usage- Intransitive
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There was great relief when the missing diver finally surfaced.
Earlier in the voyage a curious bearded seal (top) had surfaced in Anderson Bay off Victoria Island to inspect us.
To bring to the surface.
Usage- Transitive
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Sage went immediately to work; Damien surfaced the submarine and readied the group to meet outside the hatch.
To come out of hiding.
Usage- Figurative
- Intransitive
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The company believes the stolen chocolate bars could surface through unofficial sales channels across European markets.
To become known or apparent; to appear or be found; to come to light.
Usage- Intransitive
- of information
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Subordinate clauses, by contrast, exhibit V1 or V2 only around 35% of the time, with the verb usually surfacing later.
They're not growing. Why would I surface them to new people? [...That] makes our video surface less, and that makes the next video surface less.
To make (information, facts, content, etc) known.
Usage- Transitive
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They're not growing. Why would I surface them to new people? [...That] makes our video surface less, and that makes the next video surface less.
To work a mine near the surface.
Usage- Intransitive
Adjective
on the surface
- Antonyms
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surface materials of the moon
Noun
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
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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
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they skimmed over the surface of the water
a brush small enough to clean every dental surface
More examples (1)
the sun has no distinct surface
the outermost level of the land or sea
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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
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it was not what it appeared to be on the surface
information that has become public
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all the reports were out in the open
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
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Verb
come to the surface
put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
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coat the cake with chocolate
appear or become visible; make a showing
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She turned up at the funeral
I hope the list key is going to surface again