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Surficial vs. Surface — What's the Difference?

Surficial vs. Surface — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Surficial and Surface

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Surficial

Relating to the earth's surface
Surficial deposits

Surface

A surface, as the term is most generally used, is the outermost or uppermost layer of a physical object or space. It is the portion or region of the object that can first be perceived by an observer using the senses of sight and touch, and is the portion with which other materials first interact.

Surficial

Of, relating to, or occurring on or near the surface of the earth.

Surface

The outside part or uppermost layer of something
Poor road surfaces
The earth's surface

Surficial

Of or pertaining to the surface of something, particularly the surface of the Earth.
When the soil swells on wetting, the former surficial material is mixed with the subsoil.
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Surface

A continuous set of points that has length and breadth but no thickness.

Surficial

Pertaining to or occurring on or near the earth's surface;
A surficial geologic deposit

Surface

Relating to or found on the surface of something
Surface layers

Surface

Rise or come up to the surface of the water or the ground
He surfaced from his dive

Surface

Provide (something, especially a road) with a particular surface
A small path surfaced with terracotta tiles

Surface

The outer or the topmost boundary of an object.

Surface

A material layer constituting such a boundary.

Surface

The boundary of a three-dimensional figure.

Surface

The two-dimensional locus of points located in three-dimensional space.

Surface

A portion of space having length and breadth but no thickness.

Surface

The superficial or external aspect
"a flamboyant, powerful confidence man who lives entirely on the surface of experience" (Frank Conroy).

Surface

An airfoil.

Surface

Relating to, on, or at a surface
Surface algae in the water.

Surface

Relating to or occurring on or near the surface of the earth.

Surface

Superficial.

Surface

Apparent as opposed to real.

Surface

To provide with a surface or apply a surface to
Surface a table with walnut.
Surface a road with asphalt.

Surface

To bring to the surface
Surface a submarine.

Surface

To make known; expose or reveal
The first news report that surfaced the allegations.

Surface

To rise to the surface.

Surface

To emerge after concealment.

Surface

To work or dig a mine at or near the surface of the ground.

Surface

The overside or up-side of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.

Surface

The outside hull of a tangible object.

Surface

(figurative) Outward or external appearance.
On the surface, the spy looked like a typical businessman.

Surface

The locus of an equation (especially one with exactly two degrees of freedom) in a more-than-two-dimensional space. Category:en:Surfaces

Surface

(transitive) To provide something with a surface.

Surface

(transitive) To apply a surface to something.
The crew surfaced the road with bitumen.

Surface

(intransitive) To rise to the surface.
There was great relief when the missing diver finally surfaced.

Surface

(transitive) To bring to the surface.

Surface

To come out of hiding.

Surface

To become known or apparent; to appear or be found.

Surface

(transitive) To make (information or facts) known.

Surface

(intransitive) To work a mine near the surface.

Surface

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.
The bright surface of this ethereous mold.

Surface

Hence, outward or external appearance.
Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface.

Surface

A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface.

Surface

That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.

Surface

To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.

Surface

To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting for gold.

Surface

To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries.

Surface

To become known or public; - said of information.

Surface

To show up, as a person who was in hiding; as, he absconded with the payroll and surfaced in Argentina.

Surface

The outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary;
There is a special cleaner for these surfaces
The cloth had a pattern of red dots on a white surface

Surface

The extended two-dimensional outer boundary of a three-dimensional object;
They skimmed over the surface of the water
A brush small enough to clean every dental surface
The sun has no distinct surface

Surface

The outermost level of the land or sea;
Earthquakes originate far below the surface
Three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water

Surface

A superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something;
It was not what it appeared to be on the surface

Surface

Information that has become public;
All the reports were out in the open
The facts had been brought to the surface

Surface

A device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight

Surface

Come to the surface

Surface

Put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface;
Coat the cake with chocolate

Surface

Appear or become visible; make a showing;
She turned up at the funeral
I hope the list key is going to surface again

Surface

On the surface;
Surface materials of the moon
Subsurface materials of the moon

Surface

Involving a surface only;
Her beauty is only skin-deep
Superficial bruising
A surface wound

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