face: …the north face of the Eiger.
covering: Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
su r|face mail N‑UNCOUNT Surface mail is the system of sending letters and parcels by road, rail, or sea, not by air.
su rface-to-ai r ADJ [ADJ n] Surface-to-air missiles are fired from the ground or a boat and aimed at aircraft or at other missiles.
su rface-to-su rface ADJ [ADJ n] Surface-to-surface missiles are fired from the ground or a boat and aimed at targets on the ground or at other boats. □ The surface-to-surface missiles were fired from the west of the capital.
surf|board /sɜː r fbɔː r d/ (surfboards ) N‑COUNT A surfboard is a long narrow board that is used for surfing.
sur|feit /sɜː r f I t/ N‑SING A surfeit of something is an amount which is too large. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Rationing had put an end to a surfeit of biscuits long ago.
surf|ing /sɜː r f I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Surfing is the sport of riding on the top of a wave while standing or lying on a special board.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Surfing is the activity of looking at different sites on the internet, especially when you are not looking for anything in particular. [COMPUTING ] □ The trend reflects that more surfing is happening on smartphones and tablet computers.
surge /sɜː r dʒ/ (surges , surging , surged )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A surge is a sudden large increase in something that has previously been steady, or has only increased or developed slowly. □ [+ in ] Specialists see various reasons for the recent surge in inflation. □ [+ of ] The anniversary is bound to bring a new surge of interest in the poet's work.
2 VERB If something surges , it increases suddenly and greatly, after being steady or developing only slowly. □ [V + from/to/by ] The party's electoral support surged from just under 10 per cent to nearly 17 per cent. □ [V -ing] Surging imports will add to the demand for hard currency. [Also V , V amount]
3 VERB If a crowd of people surge forward, they suddenly move forward together. □ [V adv/prep] The photographers and cameramen surged forward. □ [V adv/prep] …the crowd surging out from the church.
4 N‑COUNT A surge is a sudden powerful movement of a physical force such as wind or water. □ [+ of ] The whole car shuddered with an almost frightening surge of power.
5 VERB If a physical force such as water or electricity surges through something, it moves through it suddenly and powerfully. □ [V adv/prep] A paraglider crashed into power lines and survived 11,000 volts surging through his body. [Also V ]
sur|geon /sɜː r dʒ ə n/ (surgeons )
1 N‑COUNT A surgeon is a doctor who is specially trained to perform surgery. □ …a heart surgeon.
2 → see also plastic surgeon
sur|gery ◆◇◇ /sɜː r dʒəri/ (surgeries )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Surgery is medical treatment in which someone's body is cut open so that a doctor can repair, remove, or replace a diseased or damaged part. □ His father has just recovered from heart surgery. □ Mr Clark underwent five hours of emergency surgery.
2 → see also cosmetic surgery , keyhole surgery , plastic surgery
3 N‑COUNT A surgery is the room or house where a doctor or dentist works. [BRIT ] □ Bill was in the doctor's surgery demanding to know what was wrong with him. in AM, use doctor's office , dentist's office 4 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] A doctor's surgery is the period of time each day when a doctor sees patients at his or her surgery. [BRIT ] □ His surgery always ends at eleven. in AM, use office hours 5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] In Britain, when someone such as an MP or a local councillor holds a surgery , they go to an office where members of the public can come and talk to them about problems or issues that concern them.
6 N‑COUNT A surgery is the room in a hospital where surgeons operate on their patients. [AM ] in BRIT, use theatre , operating theatre
sur|gi|cal /sɜː r dʒ I k ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Surgical equipment and clothing is used in surgery. □ …an array of surgical instruments. □ …a pair of surgical gloves.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Surgical treatment involves surgery. □ A biopsy is usually a minor surgical procedure. □ …surgical removal of a tumor. ● sur|gi|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ In very severe cases, bunions may be surgically removed.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Surgical military actions are designed to destroy a particular target without harming other people or damaging other buildings near it. □ The government claim to have achieved a surgical strike against military targets.
su r|gi|cal spi r|it N‑UNCOUNT Surgical spirit is a liquid which is used to clean wounds or surgical instruments. It consists mainly of alcohol. [BRIT ] in AM, use rubbing alcohol
sur|ly /sɜː r li/ (surlier , surliest ) ADJ Someone who is surly behaves in a rude bad-tempered way. [WRITTEN ] □ He became surly and rude towards me.
sur|mise /sə r ma I z/ (surmises , surmising , surmised )
1 VERB If you surmise that something is true, you guess it from the available evidence, although you do not know for certain. [FORMAL ] □ [V wh] There's so little to go on, we can only surmise what happened. □ [V that] He surmised that he had discovered one of the illegal streets. [Also V , V n]