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surface |
7 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Adjusting plane \Adjusting plane\ or surface \surface\ (A["e]ronautics) A small plane or surface, usually capable of adjustment but not of manipulation, for preserving lateral balance in an a["e]roplane or flying machine. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pedal \Pe"dal\, a. [L. pedalis, fr pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and cf {Pew}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or figuratively; specifically (Zo["o]l.), pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as the pedal ganglion. 2. Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals. {Pedal curve} or {surface} (Geom.), the curve or surface which is the locus of the feet of perpendiculars let fall from a fixed point upon the straight lines tangent to a given curve, or upon the planes tangent to a given surface. {Pedal note} (Mus.), the note which is held or sustained through an organ point. See {Organ point}, under {Organ}. {Pedal organ} (Mus.), an organ which has pedals or a range of keys moved by the feet; that portion of a full organ which is played with the feet. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. The bright surface of this ethereous mold. --Milton. 2. Hence outward or external appearance. Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface. --V. Knox. 3. (Geom.) A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as a plane surface; a spherical surface. 4. (Fort.) That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion. --Stocqueler. {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} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the great yellow underwing moth ({Triph[oe]na 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. 2. To work over the surface or soil of as ground, in hunting for gold. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Polar \Po"lar\, a. [Cf. F. polaire. See {Pole} of the earth.] 1. Of or pertaining to one of the poles of the earth, or of a sphere; situated near or proceeding from one of the poles; as polar regions; polar seas; polar winds. 2. Of or pertaining to the magnetic pole, or to the point to which the magnetic needle is directed. 3. (Geom.) Pertaining to reckoned from or having a common radiating point; as polar co["o]rdinates. {Polar axis}, that axis of an astronomical instrument, as an equatorial, which is parallel to the earths axis. {Polar bear} (Zo["o]l.), a large bear ({Ursus, or Thalarctos, maritimus}) inhabiting the arctic regions. It sometimes measures nearly nine feet in length and weighs 1,600 pounds. It is partially amphibious, very powerful, and the most carnivorous of all the bears. The fur is white, tinged with yellow. Called also {White bear}. See {Bear}. {Polar body}, {cell}, or {globule} (Biol.), a minute cell which separates by karyokinesis from the ovum during its maturation. In the maturation of ordinary ova two polar bodies are formed, but in parthogenetic ova only one The first polar body formed is usually larger than the second one and often divides into two after its separation from the ovum. Each of the polar bodies removes maternal chromatin from the ovum to make room for the chromatin of the fertilizing spermatozo["o]n; but their functions are not fully understood. {Polar circles} (Astron. & Geog.), two circles, each at a distance from a pole of the earth equal to the obliquity of the ecliptic, or about 23[deg] 28', the northern called the arctic circle, and the southern the antarctic circle. {Polar clock}, a tube, containing a polarizing apparatus, turning on an axis parallel to that of the earth, and indicating the hour of the day on an hour circle, by being turned toward the plane of maximum polarization of the light of the sky, which is always 90[deg] from the sun. {Polar co["o]rdinates}. See under 3d {Co["o]rdinate}. {Polar dial}, a dial whose plane is parallel to a great circle passing through the poles of the earth. --Math. Dict. {Polar distance}, the angular distance of any point on a sphere from one of its poles, particularly of a heavenly body from the north pole of the heavens. {Polar equation of a line} or {surface}, an equation which expresses the relation between the polar co["o]rdinates of every point of the line or surface. {Polar forces} (Physics), forces that are developed and act in pairs, with opposite tendencies or properties in the two elements, as magnetism, electricity, etc {Polar hare} (Zo["o]l.), a large hare of Arctic America ({Lepus arcticus}), which turns pure white in winter. It is probably a variety of the common European hare ({L. timidus}). {Polar lights}, the aurora borealis or australis. {Polar}, or {Polaric}, {opposition} or {contrast} (Logic), an opposition or contrast made by the existence of two opposite conceptions which are the extremes in a species, as white and black in colors; hence as great an opposition or contrast as possible. {Polar projection}. See under {Projection}. {Polar spherical triangle} (Spherics), a spherical triangle whose three angular points are poles of the sides of a given triangle. See 4th {Pole}, 2. {Polar whale} (Zo["o]l.), the right whale, or bowhead. See {Whale}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Cylindric \Cy*lin"dric\ (s?-l?n"dr?k), Cylindrical \Cy*lin"dric*al\ (-dr?-kal), a. [Gr. kylindriko`s, from ky`lindros cylinder: cf F. cylindrique.] Having the form of a cylinder, or of a section of its convex surface; partaking of the properties of the cylinder. {Cylindrical lens}, a lens having one or more than one cylindrical surface. {Cylindric, or Cylindrical}, {surface} (Geom.), a surface described by a straight line that moves according to any law, but so as to be constantly parallel to a given line {Cylindrical vault}. (Arch.) See under {Vault}, n. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: surface adj 1: on the surface; "surface materials of the moon" [ant: {subsurface}, {overhead}] 2: involving a surface only; "her beauty is only skin-deep"; "superficial bruising"; "a surface wound" [syn: {skin-deep}, {superficial}, {surface(a)}] n 1: the outer boundary of an object 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: {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}] 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}] v 1: come to the surface [syn: {come up}, {rise up}, {rise}] 2: put a coat on cover the surface of furnish with a surface; "coat the cake with cholocate" [syn: {coat}] 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}, {show up}]
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