surface

Definitions of surface
  1. noun
    the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 16 types...
    hide 16 types...
    damier, échiquier
    a flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games
    tableau, toile
    (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting
    niveau, surface horizontal
    a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line
    écran, écran de projection
    a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
    côté
    an extended outer surface of an object
    surface de travail
    a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games
    damier, échiquier
    a board having 64 squares of two alternating colors
    bord
    a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object
    avant, devant, devanture
    the side that is seen or that goes first
    bâbord, côté gauche
    the left side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
    surface pavée
    a level horizontal surface covered with paving material
    plate-forme, podium
    a raised horizontal surface
    arrière, derrière, dos, envers, revers
    the side that goes last or is not normally seen
    envers, verso
    the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design
    dessus d'une table
    the top horizontal work surface of a table
    surface supérieur
    the side that is uppermost
    type of:
    artefact
    a man-made object taken as a whole
  2. noun
    the extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 10 types...
    hide 10 types...
    palais
    the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities
    côté, face
    a surface forming part of the outside of an object
    ciel, firmament
    the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
    bout, extrémité
    the surface at either extremity of a three-dimensional object
    dedans, intérieur
    the inner or enclosed surface of something
    extérieur
    the outer side or surface of something
    dessous, fond
    the lower side of anything
    avant, devant
    the side that is forward or prominent
    arrière, derrière
    the side of an object that is opposite its front
    dessus, sommet
    the highest or uppermost side of anything
    type of:
    frontière
    the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘surface'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing surface

Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory

No telescope? No problem! You can study astronomy any place, any time. Expand your knowledge of stars, planets, and galaxies with this list of words related to space science.

"Here, There, and Beyond"

Learn these words from the comparative science article by Glen Phelan (Inside: Level C, Unit 4). Here are our links to the selections of "At Home in the World": Here, There, and Beyond, Sun and Moon, Earth and Space, Indian Summer Sun; Almost Evenly Divided, So You're Going to Mars Here are our links to the units of Level C: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A, Level B, Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

Earth Science - Middle School

Earth science will be a breeze once you master these essential terms. This comprehensive vocabulary list covers core topics like weather and climate, natural disasters, ecology and conservation, plate tectonics, types of rock, oceanography, and more. Best of all, you can mine this list again and again — it's a renewable resource.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS