subsurfacen.adj.
/ˈsʌbˌsəːfᵻs/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌsərfəs/ A. n.† 2. Mathematics. A three-dimensional continuum in five-dimensional space. Obsolete. rare.
1. That which lies immediately below the surface; spec. the stratum or strata just below the earth's surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > [noun] > subsoil
sole1683
undersoil1707
substratum1730
under-earth1765
subsoil1774
subsurface1775
substramen1797
underground1812
1775 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 4 Sept. (1778) Instead of the superfluous moisture being checked by the sub-surface in the immediate region of the feeding fibres, it is suffered..to drain away beneath them.
1823 S. Shaw Nature Displayed II. xxv. 451 Supposing the coal to extend throughout the whole sub-surface of the country, then the whole quantity would be exhausted in about 10,000 years.
1884 H. Spencer in Contemp. Rev. July 31 The will of the majority is valid respecting the modes in which..parts of the surface or subsurface, may be utilized.
1942 Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists 26 46 In the subsurface the recognition of a pyritized zone is comparatively simple.
1977 Kitchens & Bathrooms (Time Life Bks.) (1989) i. 8/1 Renovating a kitchen or a bathroom wall or floor begins with creating a clean, sound, level subsurface.
2007 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Dec. 39/2 The obvious places to look for such disconnected ecosystems are in the deep subsurface of Earth's crust..and in sites contaminated by metals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > geometric space > [noun] > of more than three dimensions > three-dimensional continuum in
subsurface1873
1873 A. Cayley in Q. Jrnl. Pure & Appl. Math. 12 176 In explanation of the nomenclature, observe that in 5 dimensional geometry we have: space, surface, subsurface, supercurve, curve, and point-system, according as we have between the six coordinates 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 equations.
B. adj.
Existing, lying, or operating under the surface of esp. the earth or a body of water; (also) of or relating to the subsurface. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > [adjective] > subterranean
subterraneal1592
under-earth1592
under-earthly1605
subterranean1607
subterraneous1607
subterrene1610
underground1610
subterrestrial1613
subterrane1614
subterrany1626
sotteran1648
subterrenean1653
subterrean1659
mediterraneous1668
hypogeal1686
submundane1805
subsurface1840
hypogeous1847
hypogean1852
below ground1859
catachthonic1884
catachthonian1888
the world > space > relative position > low position > [adjective] > situated or placed under > (a specific distance) under the surface
subsurface1875
deep-
1840 Rep. Sel. Comm. Health Towns 211 in Parl. Papers XXVIII. 1 In this court there is no sub-surface drainage.
1875 J. Croll Climate & Time App. 553 Subsurface-water, or the stratum immediately below it.
1888 Athenæum 18 Aug. 215/1 Sympneumatic and subsurface consciousness.
1902 Westm. Gaz. 31 Dec. 6/3 The construction of sub-surface torpedo boats.
1958 R. K. Merton Social Theory 566 The impact of technology upon the social organization is not..confined to these subsurface trends in class structure.
1987 Sci. Amer. Dec. 16/1 Comparing the recent increase with the total amount of folding..indicated by subsurface mapping.
2004 Nature 8 Jan. 115/1 Here we investigate the two large, dry craters that formed during the earthquake, and estimate the likely subsurface pressure at the time.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1775