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 surface of a diamond; the surface of the body. "The bright surface of this ethereous mold."
2.
Hence, outward or external appearance. "Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface."
3.
(Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface.
4.
(Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.
Caustic surface, Heating surface, etc. See under Caustic, Heating, etc.
Surface gauge (Mach.), an instrument consisting of a standard having a flat base and carrying an adjustable pointer, for gauging the evenness of a surface or its height, or for marking a line parallel with a surface.
Surface grub (Zool.), the larva of the great yellow underwing moth (Triphoena pronuba). It is often destructive to the roots of grasses and other plants.
Surface plate (Mach.), a plate having an accurately dressed flat surface, used as a standard of flatness by which to test other surfaces.
Surface printing, printing from a surface in relief, as from type, in distinction from plate printing, in which the ink is contained in engraved lines.
verb
Surface v. t. (past & past part. surfaced; pres. part. surfacing)
1.
To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.
2.
To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting for gold.
Surface v. i.
1.
To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries.
2.
To become known or public; said of information.
3.
To show up, as a person who was in hiding; as, he absconded with the payroll and surfaced in Argentina.
... spite of their earnestness, often display a certain ironical waggishness which comes into play on easy provocation, and lends an agreeable charm to life, just as the deep brook greets with its silver curling waves the light breeze that skims its surface. ... — Weird Tales, Vol. II. • E. T. A. Hoffmann Read full book for free!
... distance of more than three miles. Further east, a little north of the intersection of Grand and Division Streets, stood another hill, somewhat lower, where Judge Jones lived, from which opened an extensive view of the East River and harbor. On the west side, on this line, the surface sank from Bayard's mount into a spreading marsh as far as the Hudson, and over which now run portions of Canal and Grand and their cross streets. Where we have the Tombs and surrounding blocks, stood the "Fresh Water" lake or "Collect," ... — The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn • Henry P. Johnston Read full book for free!
... passed out of gloom into silver moonlight. Helen's heart bounded. For it was a great frosty-coated bear lumbering along toward the dead horse. Instinctively Helen's hand sought the arm of the hunter. It felt like iron under a rippling surface. The touch eased away the oppression over her lungs, the tightness of her throat. What must have been fear left her, and only a powerful excitement remained. A sharp expulsion of breath from Bo and a violent jerk of her frame were signs that ... — The Man of the Forest • Zane Grey Read full book for free!
... darker tint, and at his feet, cupped out in the smooth greystone, lay a sheet of water. It was dark and evil-looking, and every now and then a puff of wind eddied down from the hills and ruffled the smooth surface. ... — Mufti • H. C. (Herman Cyril) McNeile Read full book for free!
... undoubtedly was, an ascension was undertaken with the misgivings which usually preface an initial stepping from terra firma to the inconstant air. Once aloft, however, with the widespreading splendor and endless immensity of the earth's surface unrolling beneath him, and an exquisite physical exhilaration thrilling along his nerves, Donaldson became heart and soul an aeronaut. The novel and sensational expedients with which he embellished his subsequent ... — Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 26, August, 1880 - of Popular Literature and Science • Various Read full book for free!
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