surface

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bright surface of this ethereous mold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, outward or external appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface. V. Knox. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion. Stocqueler. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]