surface
gb/sˈɚfɪs/ us/sˈɚfɪs/
A2
Inglês
~ 1000
Acepções
0 acepção
Substantivo
A2
entity
1
outermost layer of something
The top or outside part of something you can see or touch.
Padrão de uso:
the surface of [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'surface' with 'face' when describing sides of objects; 'surface' usually refers to the outer layer, not a person's face.
Sinônimos
exterior (More formal; refers generally to the outside part of something.)
Antônimos
interior (Refers to the inside part, opposite of the outside surface.)
Colocações
surface area
|smooth surface
|surface temperature
|water surface
Temas
science
|daily life
|geography
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The surface of the desk is clean.
- There is water on the surface of the road.
- The surface of the plate is smooth.
Verbo
B1
action
2
come up to the top
To go up from under water or from being hidden and be seen at the top.
Padrão de uso:
[someone/something] surfaces
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse 'surface' with 'appear'; 'surface' often involves movement from below to above, especially in water contexts.
Sinônimos
emerge (General term for coming into view, not limited to water.)
Antônimos
submerge (To go under a liquid, opposite action of surfacing.)
Colocações
surface slowly
|surface suddenly
|submarine surfaces
Temas
daily life
|sports
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The diver surfaced after five minutes underwater.
- A dolphin suddenly surfaced near the boat.
- After years in hiding, the fugitive finally surfaced.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The fish surfaced to breathe.
- The submarine surfaced at dawn.
- He surfaced after swimming under the water.
Verbo
B2
action
3
become known or apparent
To be found out or noticed after being unknown or secret.
Padrão de uso:
[information/problem] surfaces
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'rise'; here it is about information becoming known, not physical movement upward.
Sinônimos
emerge (Can be used for facts, trends, or issues becoming known.)
Antônimos
conceal (To keep something hidden, opposite of surfacing information.)
Colocações
scandal surfaces
|problem surfaces
|story surfaces
Temas
communication
|media
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- A new problem surfaced yesterday.
- The truth surfaced after many years.
- Old photos surfaced on the internet.
Substantivo
technical
B2
entity
4
two-dimensional boundary in space
In math or science, the outside shape or line that marks where an object ends.
Sinônimos
plane (In mathematics, refers specifically to a flat two-dimensional surface.)
Antônimos
volume (Refers to three-dimensional space inside an object.)
Colocações
curved surface
|flat surface
|reflective surface
Temas
science
|mathematics
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The ball has a round surface.
- We drew a line on the flat surface.
- The surface of the mirror is shiny.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
surface
AFI
GB/sˈɚfɪs/
US/sˈɚfɪs/
Sílabas e tonicidade
sur - face (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: surface
- Plural: surfaces
Verb
- Base: surface
- 3rd Person Singular: surfaces
- Present Participle: surfacing
- Past: surfaced
Família de palavras
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
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.