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surface

1. The exterior part of anything that has length and breadth; one of the limits that bound a solid, especially. 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. (milton)

2. Hence, outward or external appearance. Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface. (V. Knox)

3. (Science: geometry) A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface.

4. 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 Caustic, Heating, etc. Surface condensation, Surface condenser. See Condensation, and Condenser. Surface gauge, 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.

Origin: F. See Sur-, and Face, and cf. Superficial.