The outside of something, like a table or a lake.
The surface is what you can see and touch. It's the top part of something.
Examples:
The surface of the water is smooth.
The surface of the table is shiny.
The surface of the moon is rocky.
The cat is on the surface of the bed.
The surface of the sun is very hot.
The surface of the lake is frozen.
To come up or rise to the surface of water or the ground.
When something surfaces, it comes up from under the water or ground.
Examples:
The fish surfaces to catch a bug.
The submarine surfaces to see the sky.
The treasure surfaces after a storm.
The ball surfaces after being kicked into the water.
The truth always surfaces in the end.
The boat surfaces after being underwater for a long time.