Dictionary entry details
• SURFACE (noun)
Meaning:
The outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Context examples:
there is a special cleaner for these surfaces / the cloth had a pattern of red dots on a white surface
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):
projection screen; screen; silver screen (a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing)
side (an extended outer surface of an object)
skin (an outer surface (usually thin))
spandrel; spandril (an approximately triangular surface area between two adjacent arches and the horizontal plane above them)
superficies (outer surface of an area or a body)
tread (the grooved surface of a pneumatic tire)
vertical surface (a surface that is vertical)
work surface (a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games)
plaster; plasterwork (a surface of hardened plaster (as on a wall or ceiling))
Mobius strip (a continuous closed surface with only one side; formed from a rectangular strip by rotating one end 180 degrees and joining it with the other end)
bed (the flat surface of a printing press on which the type form is laid in the last stage of producing a newspaper or magazine or book etc.)
board; gameboard (a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games)
face (the striking or working surface of an implement)
ground ((art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting)
horizontal surface; level (a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line)
Klein bottle (a closed surface with only one side; formed by passing one end of a tube through the side of the tube and joining it with the other end)
meniscus ((physics) the curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a vertical tube)
miter; mitre (the surface of a beveled end of a piece where a miter joint is made)
Meaning:
The extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Context examples:
they skimmed over the surface of the water / a brush small enough to clean every dental surface / the sun has no distinct surface
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
bound; boundary; bounds (the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):
photosphere (the intensely luminous surface of a star (especially the sun))
wave front; wavefront ((physics) an imaginary surface joining all points in space that are reached at the same instant by a wave propagating through a medium)
substrate; substratum (a surface on which an organism grows or is attached)
exterior; outside (the outer side or surface of something)
inside; interior (the inner or enclosed surface of something)
end (the surface at either extremity of a three-dimensional object)
celestial sphere; empyrean; firmament; heavens; sphere; vault of heaven; welkin (the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected)
face; side (a surface forming part of the outside of an object)
palate; roof of the mouth (the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities)
hard palate (the bony part of the roof of the mouth)
interface ((chemistry) a surface forming a common boundary between two things (two objects or liquids or chemical phases))
Meaning:
The outermost level of the land or sea
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Synonyms:
Earth's surface; surface
Context examples:
earthquakes originate far below the surface / three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
layer (a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another)
Meronyms (parts of "surface"):
gap; opening (an open or empty space in or between things)
body of water; water (the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):
floor (the bottom surface of any a cave or lake etc.)
Holonyms ("surface" is a part of...):
geosphere; lithosphere (the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle)
Meaning:
A superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Context example:
it was not what it appeared to be on the surface
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
aspect; facet (a distinct feature or element in a problem)
Meaning:
Information that has become public
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
open; surface
Context examples:
all the reports were out in the open / the facts had been brought to the surface
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
general knowledge; public knowledge (knowledge that is available to anyone)
Meaning:
A device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
aerofoil; airfoil; control surface; surface
Hypernyms ("surface" is a kind of...):
device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)
Meronyms (parts of "surface"):
leading edge (forward edge of an airfoil)
trailing edge (the rear edge of an airfoil)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface"):
aileron (an airfoil that controls lateral motion)
wing (one of the horizontal airfoils on either side of the fuselage of an airplane)
vertical tail (the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft)
stabilizer (airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft)
spoiler (an airfoil mounted on the rear of a car to reduce lift at high speeds)
spoiler (a hinged airfoil on the upper surface of an aircraft wing that is raised to reduce lift and increase drag)
rudder (a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes)
rotary wing; rotor blade (the long airfoil that rotates to provide the lift that supports a helicopter in the air)
horizontal stabiliser; horizontal stabilizer; tailplane (the horizontal airfoil of an aircraft's tail assembly that is fixed and to which the elevator is hinged)
flap; flaps (a movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing; used to increase lift or drag)
elevator (the airfoil on the tailplane of an aircraft that makes it ascend or descend)
• SURFACE (adjective)
Meaning:
On the surface
Context example:
surface materials of the moon
Similar:
aboveground (on or above the surface of the ground)
grade-constructed (constructed at ground level)
opencast; opencut ((of mines and mining) worked from the exposed surface)
Antonym:
overhead (located or originating from above)
subsurface (beneath the surface)
Meaning:
Involving a surface only
Synonyms:
skin-deep; surface; superficial
Context examples:
her beauty is only skin-deep / superficial bruising / a surface wound
Similar:
shallow (not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply)
• SURFACE (verb)
Meaning:
Come to the surface
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
surface; rise up; come up; rise
Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):
ascend; go up (travel up,)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surface"):
emerge (come up to the surface of or rise)
resurface (reappear on the surface)
bubble up; intumesce (move upwards in bubbles, as from the effect of heating; also used metaphorically)
swell; well (come up, as of a liquid)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
coat; surface
Context example:
coat the cake with chocolate
Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):
cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surface"):
paint (apply paint to; coat with paint)
skimcoat (coat with a mixture of gypsum and spackle)
render (coat with plastic or cement)
daub; plaster (coat with plaster)
enrobe (provide with a coating)
tar (coat with tar)
glaze (coat with a glaze)
seal; varnish (cover with varnish)
cement (cover or coat with cement)
grit (cover with a grit)
zinc (coat or cover with zinc)
porcelainize (coat with porcelain or a porcelain-like surface)
platinize (coat with metallic platinum)
metalize; metallize (coat with metal)
size (cover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance))
macadamise; macadamize; tarmac (surface with macadam)
metal (cover with metal)
plate (coat with a layer of metal)
pave (cover with a material such as stone or concrete to make suitable for vehicle traffic)
galvanise; galvanize (cover with zinc)
foliate (coat or back with metal foil)
dredge (cover before cooking)
encrust; incrust (cover or coat with a crust)
egg (coat with beaten egg)
stucco (coat with stucco)
skim (coat (a liquid) with a layer)
gelatinize (coat with gelatin)
anodise; anodize (coat a metal with an oxide coat)
rubber; rubberise; rubberize (coat or impregnate with rubber)
soot (coat with soot)
refinish (give a new surface)
blacktop (coat with blacktop)
bonderise; bonderize (coat with a substance that will prevent corrosion)
finish (provide with a finish)
copper (coat with a layer of copper)
crumb (coat with bread crumbs)
resurface (cover with a new surface)
patinate; patinise; patinize (coat with a patina)
brush on (apply with a brush)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Appear or become visible; make a showing
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
turn up; show up; come out; come on; surface
Context examples:
She turned up at the funeral / I hope the list key is going to surface again
Hypernyms (to "surface" is one way to...):
appear (come into sight or view)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
