from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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 surface of a diamond; the surface of the body.
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The bright surface of this ethereous mold. --Milton.
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2. Hence, outward or external appearance.
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Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no
deeper than the surface. --V. Knox.
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3. (Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without
thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical
surface.
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4. (Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the
flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.
--Stocqueler.
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{Caustic surface}, {Heating surface}, etc. See under
{Caustic}, {Heating}, etc.
{Surface condensation}, {Surface condenser}. See under
{Condensation}, and {Condenser}.
{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.
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