surface
gb/sˈɚfɪs/ us/sˈɚfɪs/
A2
English
~ 1000
felület, felszín, felszínre jön, felbukkan, napvilágra kerül, felmerül, felszínre kerül
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the surface of [something]
The table’s surface was covered in dust.
Az asztal felületét por borította.
Ice formed on the surface of the lake.
Jég képződött a tó felszínén.
Please clean the surface before painting.
The surface of the moon is rocky and barren.
Learner examples
The surface of the desk is clean.
Az íróasztal felülete tiszta.
There is water on the surface of the road.
Víz van az út felszínén.
The surface of the plate is smooth.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'surface' with 'face' when describing sides of objects; 'surface' usually refers to the outer layer, not a person's face.
Meaning
outermost layer of something
Collocations
surface area
|smooth surface
|surface temperature
|water surface
Synonyms
exterior (More formal; refers generally to the outside part of something.)
Antonyms
interior (Refers to the inside part, opposite of the outside surface.)
Themes
science
|daily life
|geography
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
The top or outside part of something you can see or touch.
The outside or top layer of an object or area, which can be seen or touched.
VERB
B1
2
felbukkan
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] surfaces
The diver surfaced after five minutes underwater.
A búvár öt perc víz alatt töltött idő után feljött a felszínre.
A dolphin suddenly surfaced near the boat.
Egy delfin hirtelen felbukkant a hajó közelében.
After years in hiding, the fugitive finally surfaced.
Learner examples
The fish surfaced to breathe.
A hal feljött a felszínre levegőt venni.
The submarine surfaced at dawn.
A tengeralattjáró hajnalban felszínre emelkedett.
He surfaced after swimming under the water.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'surface' with 'appear'; 'surface' often involves movement from below to above, especially in water contexts.
Meaning
come up to the top
Collocations
surface slowly
|surface suddenly
|submarine surfaces
Synonyms
emerge (General term for coming into view, not limited to water.)
Antonyms
submerge (To go under a liquid, opposite action of surfacing.)
Themes
daily life
|sports
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go up from under water or from being hidden and be seen at the top.
To rise or come up to the top of a liquid or from a hidden position.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[information/problem] surfaces
New evidence has surfaced in the investigation.
A nyomozás során új bizonyíték került napvilágra.
Rumors about the merger began to surface last week.
A múlt héten kezdtek felbukkanni az összeolvadással kapcsolatos pletykák.
Problems with the product only surfaced after it went on sale.
Learner examples
A new problem surfaced yesterday.
Tegnap új probléma merült fel.
The truth surfaced after many years.
Az igazság sok év után napvilágra került.
Old photos surfaced on the internet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'rise'; here it is about information becoming known, not physical movement upward.
Meaning
become known or apparent
Collocations
scandal surfaces
|problem surfaces
|story surfaces
Synonyms
emerge (Can be used for facts, trends, or issues becoming known.)
Antonyms
conceal (To keep something hidden, opposite of surfacing information.)
Themes
communication
|media
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be found out or noticed after being unknown or secret.
To become known, noticed, or apparent after being hidden or secret.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
Light reflects off the surface of a mirror.
A fény visszaverődik a tükör felületéről.
The Earth’s surface is about 70% water.
A Föld felszínének körülbelül 70%-át víz borítja.
A sphere has a smooth surface with no edges.
Learner examples
The ball has a round surface.
A labdának gömbölyű felülete van.
We drew a line on the flat surface.
Egy vonalat rajzoltunk a sík felületre.
The surface of the mirror is shiny.
Meaning
two-dimensional boundary in space
Collocations
curved surface
|flat surface
|reflective surface
Synonyms
plane (In mathematics, refers specifically to a flat two-dimensional surface.)
Antonyms
volume (Refers to three-dimensional space inside an object.)
Themes
science
|mathematics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In math or science, the outside shape or line that marks where an object ends.
In geometry or physics, a continuous two-dimensional boundary that forms the limit of a solid object or divides regions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
surface
IPA
GB/sˈɚfɪs/
US/sˈɚfɪs/
Syllables & stress
sur - face (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: surface
- Plural: surfaces
Verb
- Base: surface
- 3rd Person Singular: surfaces
- Present Participle: surfacing
- Past: surfaced
Word family
Forms
surfaces
noun
surfacing
verb
surfaced
verb
Related words
resurface
verb
Negative and opposite forms
subsurface
adjective
Advanced or less common
superficial
adjective B2
superficially
adverb B2
Expressions
break the surface
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə sˈɚfɪs/
fixed phrase
emerge above liquid layer
To come up through water so that part can be seen above it.
Examples
- The whale broke the surface near our boat.
- A swimmer broke the surface for air.
come to the surface
1/kˈʌm tə ðə sˈɚfɪs/
fixed phrase
rise into view from below
To move up and be seen after being under water or hidden.
Examples
- Bubbles came to the surface as the fish swam up.
- Old tensions came to the surface during the meeting.
on the surface
1/ˈɔn ðə sˈɚfɪs/
fixed phrase
considering only what is visible
Looking only at what can be seen, not at deeper facts or feelings.
Examples
- On the surface, he seemed confident, but he was nervous inside.
- The plan looks good on the surface, but it has problems.
scratch the surface
1/skɹˈæt͡ʃ ðə sˈɚfɪs/
idiom
deal with only a small part
To deal with only a very small or simple part of something, not the whole problem or idea.
Examples
- We have only scratched the surface of this mystery.
- These figures only scratch the surface of the problem.
- This report just scratches the surface of what happened.
- We’ve just scratched the surface of what this technology can do.
- The article scratches the surface but doesn’t explain the causes in detail.