The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Surface \Sur"face`\, n. [F. See Sur-, and Face, and cf.
   Superficial.]
   1. 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            The bright surface of this ethereous mold. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence, outward or external appearance.
      [1913 Webster]

            Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no
            deeper than the surface.              --V. Knox.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without
      thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical
      surface.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the
      flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.
      --Stocqueler.
      [1913 Webster]

   Caustic surface, Heating surface, etc. See under
      Caustic, Heating, etc.

   Surface condensation, Surface condenser. See under
      Condensation, and Condenser.

   Surface gauge (Mach.), an instrument consisting of a
      standard having a flat base and carrying an adjustable
      pointer, for gauging the evenness of a surface or its
      height, or for marking a line parallel with a surface.

   Surface grub (Zool.), the larva of the great yellow
      underwing moth (Triphoena pronuba). It is often
      destructive to the roots of grasses and other plants.

   Surface plate (Mach.), 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.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Surface \Sur"face\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surfaced; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Surfacing.]
   1. To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a
      smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting
      for gold.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Surface \Sur"face\, v. i.
   1. To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as,
      the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries.
      [PJC]

   2. To become known or public; -- said of information.
      [PJC]

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

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

surface
    adj 1: on the surface; "surface materials of the moon" [ant:
           overhead, subsurface]
    n 1: 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"
    2: 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"
    3: 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" [syn: surface,
       Earth's surface]
    4: a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of
       something; "it was not what it appeared to be on the surface"
    5: information that has become public; "all the reports were out
       in the open"; "the facts had been brought to the surface"
       [syn: open, surface]
    6: a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative
       to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
       [syn: airfoil, aerofoil, control surface, surface]
    v 1: come to the surface [syn: surface, come up, rise up,
         rise]
    2: put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface;
       "coat the cake with chocolate" [syn: coat, surface]
    3: appear or become visible; make a showing; "She turned up at
       the funeral"; "I hope the list key is going to surface again"
       [syn: come on, come out, turn up, surface, show up]