Surface vs. Plane: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Published on October 7, 2023
A surface refers to the exterior part or top layer of an object, while a plane is a flat, two-dimensional level or area.
Difference Between Surface and Plane
Surface and plane, while related, have distinct differences in their meanings and usages in the English language. A surface primarily alludes to the outer or topmost boundary of an object. It is that part of an object you can touch, see, or interact with. On the other hand, a plane is conceptualized as an entirely flat, two-dimensional expanse or level. Its abstract nature means it doesn't necessarily have to be a tangible entity.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
Thinking in terms of the physical world, a surface might refer to the top of a table, the skin of an apple, or the road under our feet. Each of these examples denotes a tangible, outer boundary. Contrarily, a plane could be visualized as an infinitely flat sheet extending in all directions. In mathematics, for instance, the Cartesian plane is used to plot points in two-dimensional space, without any consideration of thickness.
Muneeza Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
The application of surface and plane varies widely. In geometry, the surface might denote the exterior of a three-dimensional object. In contrast, plane geometry focuses exclusively on flat shapes and figures. Similarly, in everyday language, one might complain about a rough surface, while a carpenter might ensure a wooden board is plane or level.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
Interestingly, context plays a vital role in determining the exact meaning of these words. While surface might refer to the exterior of an object in most contexts, in the realm of water bodies, it can indicate the top layer of water. Plane, besides its geometric implications, can also refer to tools used for leveling wood or even an aircraft, demonstrating its varied usages based on context.
Olivia
Oct 07, 2023
Surface vs. Plane Comparison Chart
Surface vs. Plane Definitions
◉Surface
An outer face or boundary.
The road's surface was smooth and easy to drive on.
Muazma Batool
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
An abstract flat, two-dimensional expanse.
The Cartesian plane is essential in coordinate geometry.
Muazma Batool
Sep 14, 2023
◉Surface
An apparent rather than actual quality or appearance.
Beneath the surface, he was a kind-hearted person.
Nolan
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
A tool for smoothing or shaping wood.
He used a plane to smooth out the wooden board.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
A level of existence, consciousness, or development.
On another plane of reality, things might be different.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
(Mathematics) A surface containing all the straight lines that connect any two points on it.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The two-dimensional locus of points located in three-dimensional space.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A level of development, existence, or achievement
scholarship on a high plane.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The superficial or external aspect
"a flamboyant, powerful confidence man who lives entirely on the surface of experience" (Frank Conroy).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A carpenter's tool with an adjustable blade for smoothing and leveling wood.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A trowel-shaped tool for smoothing the surface of clay, sand, or plaster in a mold.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To provide with a surface or apply a surface to
surface a table with walnut.
surface a road with asphalt.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To make known; expose or reveal
the first news report that surfaced the allegations.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
To rise partly out of the water, as a hydroplane does at high speeds.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The overside or up-side of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
(figurative) Outward or external appearance.
On the surface, the spy looked like a typical businessman.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
(geometry) A flat surface extending infinitely in all directions (e.g. horizontal or vertical plane). Category:en:Surfaces
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The locus of an equation (especially one with exactly two degrees of freedom) in a more-than-two-dimensional space. Category:en:Surfaces
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
(anatomy) An imaginary plane which divides the body into two portions.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
(transitive) To apply a surface to something.
The crew surfaced the road with bitumen.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A roughly flat, thin, often moveable structure used to create lateral force by the flow of air or water over its surface, found on aircraft, submarines, etc. (Compare airfoil, hydrofoil.)}}
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
(intransitive) To rise to the surface.
There was great relief when the missing diver finally surfaced.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
Any of 17 designated ranges of 216 (65,536) sequential code points each.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
(entomology) The butterfly Bindahara phocides, family Lycaenidae, of Asia and Australasia.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
Hence, outward or external appearance.
Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To give a surface to; especially, to cause to have a smooth or plain surface; to make smooth or plain.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To work over the surface or soil of, as ground, in hunting for gold.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A surface, real or imaginary, in which, if any two points are taken, the straight line which joins them lies wholly in that surface; or a surface, any section of which by a like surface is a straight line; a surface without curvature.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To rise from the depths of a liquid to the surface; as, the submarine surfaced to recharge its batteries.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
An ideal surface, conceived as coinciding with, or containing, some designated astronomical line, circle, or other curve; as, the plane of an orbit; the plane of the ecliptic, or of the equator.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A block or plate having a perfectly flat surface, used as a standard of flatness; a surface plate.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
To show up, as a person who was in hiding; as, he absconded with the payroll and surfaced in Argentina.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
A tool for smoothing boards or other surfaces of wood, for forming moldings, etc. It consists of a smooth-soled stock, usually of wood, from the under side or face of which projects slightly the steel cutting edge of a chisel, called the iron, which inclines backward, with an apperture in front for the escape of shavings; as, the jack plane; the smoothing plane; the molding plane, etc.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
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
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
Without elevations or depressions; even; level; flat; lying in, or constituting, a plane; as, a plane surface.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
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
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
To make smooth; to level; to pare off the inequalities of the surface of, as of a board or other piece of wood, by the use of a plane; as, to plane a plank.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
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
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
To efface or remove.
He planed away the names . . . written on his tables.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
a superficial aspect as opposed to the real nature of something;
it was not what it appeared to be on the surface
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
Figuratively, to make plain or smooth.
What student came but that you planed her path.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
information that has become public;
all the reports were out in the open
the facts had been brought to the surface
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
Of a boat, to lift more or less out of the water while in motion, after the manner of a hydroplane; to hydroplane.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets;
the flight was delayed due to trouble with the airplane
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
(mathematics) an unbounded two-dimensional shape;
we will refer to the plane of the graph as the X-Y plane
any line joining two points on a plane lies wholly on that plane
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface;
coat the cake with chocolate
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
appear or become visible; make a showing;
She turned up at the funeral
I hope the list key is going to surface again
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
on the surface;
surface materials of the moon
subsurface materials of the moon
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
a carpenter's hand tool with an adjustable blade for smoothing or shaping wood;
the cabinetmaker used a plane for the finish work
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
involving a surface only;
her beauty is only skin-deep
superficial bruising
a surface wound
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Plane
cut or remove with or as if with a plane;
The machine shaved off fine layers from the piece of wood
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The exterior or outer part of something.
The surface of the moon is covered with craters.
Jonathan
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
make even or smooth, with or as with a carpenter's plane;
plane the top of the door
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Surface
The extent or expanse of an area.
The surface area of a cube can be calculated using a specific formula.
Lucas
Sep 14, 2023
◉Plane
having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another;
a flat desk
acres of level farmland
a plane surface
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
Surface vs. Plane Frequently Asked Questions
Does a plane have thickness?
Typically, a plane is conceptualized as having no thickness; it's two-dimensional.
Jonathan
Oct 07, 2023
Is every surface flat?
No, surfaces can be curved or uneven, like the surface of a ball.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
Can a surface be intangible?
Usually, surfaces are tangible, but metaphorically, it can allude to superficial aspects.
Muneeza Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
Is a plane always a geometric concept?
While often used in geometry, plane can also refer to an aircraft or a tool in carpentry.
Muneeza Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
Can the word surface refer to depth?
In contexts like water bodies, "surface" can imply the topmost layer, hinting at depth beneath.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
Is the surface of a lake the same as its plane?
The surface of a lake is its topmost layer of water, whereas its plane would refer to a flat, level expanse.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
What's the relationship between surface and depth?
Surface often contrasts with what lies beneath or deeper aspects.
Lucas
Oct 07, 2023
How is surface area different from area in a plane?
Surface area measures the total exterior of a 3D object, while area in a plane pertains to 2D shapes.
Muneeza Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
Why might someone say "plane of thought"?
This phrase metaphorically indicates a level or type of thinking or consciousness.
Henry
Oct 07, 2023
Does plane always indicate something flat?
Primarily, yes, but remember plane can also refer to aircraft, making context crucial.
Muazma Batool
Oct 07, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
