今天的单词是surface，在托福考试之中出现110次以上。绝对的重点词汇哦！呵呵，仔细一查竟然发现这个单词还有动词和形容词的词性，但是经过词频统计，我们发现绝大多数在托福里面出现的时候是以复数的形式出现，因此毫无疑问，名词词性“表面，表层”是在iBT托福考试里面最常见词义。
接下来看看牛津字典给我们的解释。
surface
/ ˈsɜːfɪs; ˋsəfɪs/ n
[C] (a) outside of an object （物体的）表面: the surface of a sphere, a ball, the earth 球体﹑ 球﹑ 地球的表面 * [attrib 作定语] the surface area of the brain 大脑的表层. (b) any of the sides of an object （物体的）面: A cube has six surfaces. 立方体有六个面. (c) uppermost area or layer of sth 最上面的部分; 表层; 面层: the rough surface of the wall 那墙的粗糙表面 * an asphalt road surface 柏油路面 * The insect's sting penetrates the surface of the skin. 昆虫的螫针能够刺穿皮肤的表层. * wipe all the surfaces in the kitchen, ie the walls, the tops and sides of furniture, etc 把厨房的一切表面揩乾净（墙及家具等的各面） * [attrib 作定语] a surface layer 表层 * a surface wound, ie not a deep one 轻度创伤 * a surface worker, ie a miner who works above ground 在井上工作的矿工 * surface noise, ie unwanted noise caused by dust, static electricity, etc on a record when it is being played （放唱片时由尘埃﹑ 静电等引起的）（唱针）划纹噪声, （唱片）纹噪声.
[C usu sing 通常作单数] top of a body of liquid, eg the sea 液面; 水面（如海面）: The submarine rose to the surface. 潜艇露出了水面. * the frozen surface of the lake 结冰的湖面 * [attrib 作定语] a surface vessel, ie an ordinary ship, not a submarine 水面舰船（一般舰船, 与潜艇相对）.
[sing] (fig 比喻) qualities of sb or sth that are easily seen, contrasted with deeper or hidden ones （人或事物的）表象, 外表, 外观: Beneath her self-confident surface, she's quite unsure of herself. 她看上去信心十足, 实际上很缺乏信心. * You must not look only at the surface of things. 看事物不能只看到表面现象. * [attrib 作定语] surface politeness, ie concealing anger, etc 勉强装出的礼貌（隐藏着愤怒等） * surface impressions, ie ones gained too quickly, without proper thought or observation 肤浅的印象.
(idm 习语) on the `surface when not observed, thought about, etc deeply or thoroughly; superficially 在表面上; 在外表上: The scheme seems on the surface to be quite practical. 这方案表面上看来似乎很实际. * On the surface, she's a charming, helpful person. 从表面上看, 她又很动人又肯助人. scratch the surface => scratch1.
> surface v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (with sth) put a surface(1c) on sth 在某物上加表层: surface a road (with tarmac) （用柏油碎石）铺路面 * a wall surfaced with plaster 用灰泥饰面的墙.
2 [I] (of a submarine, skin-diver, etc) come up to the surface of a body of water （指潜艇﹑ 赤身潜水者等）浮到水面.
3 [I] (infml 口) (a) appear again after a period of remaining unseen, hidden, away from others, etc （隐蔽﹑ 隐藏﹑ 离开他人等一段时间後）重新出现: After living abroad for years, she suddenly surfaced again in London. 她在国外居住多年之後, 突然在伦敦重新露面了. * Their old rivalry soon surfaced when they met again. 他们重逢时, 昔日之明争暗斗旋即死灰复燃. (b) wake from sleep or unconsciousness 睡醒; 恢复知觉: He finally surfaced at midday. 他终於在中午时醒过来了.
# `surface mail letters, etc carried by road, rail or sea, not by air 陆路邮件, 水路邮件（别於航空邮件）.
,surface `tension property of liquids by which they form a film or layer at their surface and make its area as small as possible 表面张力.
,surface-to-`air adj [attrib 作定语] (of missiles, etc) fired from the ground or from ships, aimed at aircraft （指导弹等）地对空的, 舰对空的.