surface
gb/sˈɚfɪs/ us/sˈɚfɪs/
A2
Anglais
~ 1000
Sens
0 sens
Nom
A2
entity
1
outermost layer of something
The top or outside part of something you can see or touch.
Schéma d’usage :
the surface of [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'surface' with 'face' when describing sides of objects; 'surface' usually refers to the outer layer, not a person's face.
Synonymes
exterior (More formal; refers generally to the outside part of something.)
Antonymes
interior (Refers to the inside part, opposite of the outside surface.)
Collocations
surface area
|smooth surface
|surface temperature
|water surface
Thèmes
science
|daily life
|geography
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Exemples
- The table’s surface was covered in dust.
- Ice formed on the surface of the lake.
- Please clean the surface before painting.
- The surface of the moon is rocky and barren.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The surface of the desk is clean.
- There is water on the surface of the road.
- The surface of the plate is smooth.
Verbe
B1
action
2
come up to the top
To go up from under water or from being hidden and be seen at the top.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone/something] surfaces
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse 'surface' with 'appear'; 'surface' often involves movement from below to above, especially in water contexts.
Synonymes
emerge (General term for coming into view, not limited to water.)
Antonymes
submerge (To go under a liquid, opposite action of surfacing.)
Collocations
surface slowly
|surface suddenly
|submarine surfaces
Thèmes
daily life
|sports
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The diver surfaced after five minutes underwater.
- A dolphin suddenly surfaced near the boat.
- After years in hiding, the fugitive finally surfaced.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The fish surfaced to breathe.
- The submarine surfaced at dawn.
- He surfaced after swimming under the water.
Verbe
B2
action
3
become known or apparent
To be found out or noticed after being unknown or secret.
Schéma d’usage :
[information/problem] surfaces
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'rise'; here it is about information becoming known, not physical movement upward.
Synonymes
emerge (Can be used for facts, trends, or issues becoming known.)
Antonymes
conceal (To keep something hidden, opposite of surfacing information.)
Collocations
scandal surfaces
|problem surfaces
|story surfaces
Thèmes
communication
|media
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- New evidence has surfaced in the investigation.
- Rumors about the merger began to surface last week.
- Problems with the product only surfaced after it went on sale.
Exemples pédagogiques
- A new problem surfaced yesterday.
- The truth surfaced after many years.
- Old photos surfaced on the internet.
Nom
technical
B2
entity
4
two-dimensional boundary in space
In math or science, the outside shape or line that marks where an object ends.
Synonymes
plane (In mathematics, refers specifically to a flat two-dimensional surface.)
Antonymes
volume (Refers to three-dimensional space inside an object.)
Collocations
curved surface
|flat surface
|reflective surface
Thèmes
science
|mathematics
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Light reflects off the surface of a mirror.
- The Earth’s surface is about 70% water.
- A sphere has a smooth surface with no edges.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The ball has a round surface.
- We drew a line on the flat surface.
- The surface of the mirror is shiny.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
surface
API
GB/sˈɚfɪs/
US/sˈɚfɪs/
Syllabes et accentuation
sur - face (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: surface
- Plural: surfaces
Verb
- Base: surface
- 3rd Person Singular: surfaces
- Present Participle: surfacing
- Past: surfaced
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.