surface

surface
[[t]sɜ͟ː(r)fɪs[/t]]
♦♦
surfaces, surfacing, surfaced
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp The surface of something is the flat top part of it or the outside of it.

Ozone forms a protective layer between 12 and 30 miles above the Earth's surface.

...tiny little waves on the surface of the water...

The road surface has started breaking up...

Its total surface area was seven thousand square feet.

2) N-COUNT: usu with supp A work surface is a flat area, for example the top of a table, desk, or kitchen cupboard, on which you can work.

It can simply be left on the work surface...

Place the fish on a flat surface and sprinkle the flesh with lemon juice and pepper.

3) N-SING: usu the N When you refer to the surface of a situation, you are talking about what can be seen easily rather than what is hidden or not immediately obvious.

Back in Britain, things appear, on the surface, simpler...

Social unrest, never far below the surface in Brazil, has erupted over the last few days...

It's brought to the surface a much wider controversy.

4) ADJ: ADJ n Surface is used to describe the parts of the armed forces which travel by ship or by land rather than underwater or in the air.

In contrast with its surface fleet, Britain's submarine force was relatively small.

...Nato surface forces.

5) VERB If someone or something under water surfaces, they come up to the surface of the water.

He surfaced, gasping for air.

6) VERB When something such as a piece of news, a feeling, or a problem surfaces, it becomes known or becomes obvious.

The paper says the evidence, when it surfaces, is certain to cause uproar...

The emotions will surface at some point in life...

The same old problems would surface again.

Syn:
7) VERB When someone surfaces, they appear after not being seen for some time, for example because they have been asleep. [INFORMAL]

There's no chance that he'll surface because he's bound to have heard by now...

What time do you surface?

Syn:

English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • surface — [ syrfas ] n. f. • 1611; superface 1521; lat. superficies → superficie; de sur et face 1 ♦ Partie extérieure (d un corps), qui le limite en tous sens. ⇒ face. La surface de la Terre, la surface terrestre. À la surface du sol. « une surface pure… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Surface — Sur face , n. [F. See {Sur }, and {Face}, and cf. {Superficial}.] 1. The exterior part of anything that has length and breadth; one of the limits that bound a solid, esp. the upper face; superficies; the outside; as, the surface of the earth; the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surface — [sʉr′fis] n. [Fr < sur (see SUR 1) + face,FACE, based on L superficies] 1. a) the outer face, or exterior, of an object b) any of the faces of a solid c) the area or extent of such a face …   English World dictionary

  • surface — 1610s, from Fr. surface outermost boundary of anything, outside part (16c.), from O.Fr. sur above + face (see FACE (Cf. face)). Patterned on L. superficies surface (see SUPERFICIAL (Cf. superficial)). The verb meaning come to the surface is first …   Etymology dictionary

  • surface — ► NOUN 1) the outside part or uppermost layer of something. 2) the upper limit of a body of liquid. 3) outward appearance as distinct from less obvious aspects. ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to or occurring on the surface. 2) (of transportation) by sea …   English terms dictionary

  • Surface — Sur face, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surfaced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surfacing}.] 1. To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain. [1913 Webster] 2. To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surface — [adj] external apparent, covering, depthless, exterior, facial, outer, outside, outward, shallow, shoal, superficial, top; concepts 485,583 Ant. central, core, inside, interior, middle surface [n] external part of something area, cover, covering …   New thesaurus

  • surface — Surface. subst. f. L exterieur, le dehors d un corps. Surface platte, unie, raboteuse. la surface de la terre …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Surface — Sur face, v. i. 1. To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries. [PJC] 2. To become known or public; said of information. [PJC] 3. To show up, as a person who was in hiding; as, he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Surface — (fr., spr. Sürfahs), die Oberfläche …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • surface — index bare, cursory, dimension, emerge, issue (send forth), ostensible, side, superficial …   Law dictionary

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