1. the outer or the topmost boundary of an object.
2. A material layer constituting such a boundary.
3. mathematics the boundary of a three-dimensional figure.
4. mathematics the two-dimensional locus of points located in three-dimensional space.
5. mathematics A portion of space having length and breadth but no thickness.
6. the superficial or external aspect: "a flamboyant, powerful confidence man who lives entirely on the surface of experience” ( frank Conroy).
7. an airfoil.
8. relating to, on, or at a surface: surface algae in the water.
9. relating to or occurring on or near the surface of the earth.
10. superficial.
11. apparent as opposed to real.
12. to provide with a surface or apply a surface to: surface a table with walnut; surface a road with asphalt.
13. to rise to the surface.
14. to emerge after concealment.
15. to work or dig a mine at or near the surface of the ground.
16. on the surface to all intents and purposes; to all outward appearances: a soldier who, on the surface, appeared brave and patriotic.

1. the up-side of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.
2. the outside hull of a tangible object.
3. (geometry) the locus of an equation (especially one with exactly two degrees of freedom) in a more-than-two-dimensional space.
4. to provide something with a surface.
5. to apply a surface to something.
6. to rise to the surface.
7. to come out of hiding.
8. for information or facts to become known.
9. to work a mine near the surface.
10. to appear or be found.

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.
2. hence, outward or external appearance.
3. A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies.
4. that part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.
5. to rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface.
6. to become known or public; -- said of information.
7. to show up, as a person who was in hiding.
8. to give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.
9. to work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting for gold.

1. the bounding or limiting parts of a body; the parts of a body which are immediately adjacent to another body or to empty space (or the air); superficies; outside: distinguished as a physical surface.
2. the boundary between two solid spaces not adjacent to a third: distinguished as a mathematical surface.
3. outward or external appearance: what appears on a slight view or without examination.
4. in fortification, that part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged and the angle of the nearest bastion.
5. A centrosurface.
6. A special case of the above, with four conical points. generally distinguished as Dupin's cyclide.
7. where ϕ = 0 is a primitive surface.
8. an elassoidal surface (which see, above): an ordinary use, but not quite accurate.
9. A surface generated by the helicoidal motion of a right line.
10. the surface often originally, and better, called the roman surface [discovered by jacob Steiner (1796-1863), undoubtedly the greatest of all geometricians], being a quartic surface of the third class, having three double lines. in its symmetrical form its appearance is thus described: take a tetrahedron, and inscribe in each face a circle. there will be, of course, two circles touching at the mid-point of each edge of the tetrahedron; each circle will contain, on its circumference, at angular distances of 120°, three mid-points; and the lines joining these with the center of the tetrahedron, produced beyond the center, meet the opposite edges … joining the mid-points. … now truncate the tetrahedron by planes parallel to the faces, so as to reduce the altitudes, each to three fourths of the original value; and from the center of each new face round off symmetrically up to the adjacent three circles; and within each circle scoop down to the center of the tetrahedron, the bounding surface of the excavation passing through [that is, containing] the three right lines, and the sections by planes parallel to the face being in the neighborhood of the face nearly circular, but, as they approach the center, assuming a trigoidal form, and being close to the center an indefinitely small equilateral triangle. we have thus the surface, consisting of four lobes united only by the lines through the mid-points of opposite edges—these lines being consequently nodal lines, the mid-points being pinch-points of the surface, and the faces singular planes, each touching the surface along the inscribed circle. (Cayley, proceedings london math. soc., V. 14.)
11. more generally, a surface generated by a curve the plane of which moves in any way so that every line in it remains parallel to itself.
12.
13. of or pertaining to the surface; external; hence, superficial; specious; insincere: as, mere surface politeness or loyalty.
14. to put a surface (of a particular kind) on, or give a (certain) surface to; specifically, to give a fine or even surface to; make plain or smooth.

1. the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object
2. a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something
3. information that has become public
4. the outermost level of the land or sea
5. put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
6. come to the surface
7. a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
8. on the surface
9. appear or become visible; make a showing
10. the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary