different between surface vs observable

English

Etymology

From French surface.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s??f?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?s??f?s/

Noun

surface (plural surfaces)

1. The overside or up-side of a flat object such as a table, or of a liquid.
2. The outside hull of a tangible object.
3. (figuratively) Outward or external appearance.
   • “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, […].

4. (mathematics, geometry) The locus of an equation (especially one with exactly two degrees of freedom) in a more-than-two-dimensional space.
5. (fortification) That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Stocqueler to this entry?)

Synonyms

• overside
• superfice (archaic)

Derived terms

Related terms

• surficial

Translations

Verb

surface (third-person singular simple present surfaces, present participle surfacing, simple past and past participle surfaced)

1. (transitive) To provide something with a surface.
2. (transitive) To apply a surface to something.
3. (intransitive) To rise to the surface.
4. (transitive) To bring to the surface.
   • 2007, Patrick Valentine, The Sage of Aquarius (page 182)

     Sage went immediately to work; Damien surfaced the submarine and readied the group to meet outside the hatch.

5. (intransitive) To come out of hiding.
6. (intransitive) For information or facts to become known.
7. (transitive) To make information or facts known.
8. (intransitive) To work a mine near the surface.
9. (intransitive) To appear or be found.

Translations

French

Etymology

sur- +? face, calque of Latin superficies.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sy?.fas/
• Homophones: surfaces, surfacent

Noun

surface f (plural surfaces)

1. surface

Derived terms

Further reading

• “surface” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

observe +? -able

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?z??(?)v?b?l/

Adjective

observable (comparative more observable, superlative most observable)

1. Able to be observed.
2. Deserving to be observed; worth regarding; remarkable.

Synonyms

• (able to be observed): noticeable, perceivable; see also Thesaurus:perceptible
• (deserving to be observed): eminent, noteworthy; see also Thesaurus:notable

Translations

Noun

observable (plural observables)

1. (physics) Any physical property that can be observed and measured directly and not derived from other properties

   Temperature is an observable but entropy is derived.

   In quantum mechanics, observables correspond to Hermitian operators. Also, they act a lot like random variables. Taking their expected value one may recover something resembling a classical observable.

Translations

French

Etymology

observer +? -able

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p.s??.vabl/

Adjective

observable (plural observables)

1. observable

   Antonym: inobservable

Derived terms

• observabilité

Related terms

• observance
• observant
• observateur

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin observ?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /obse??bable/, [o??.se????a.??le]

Adjective

observable (plural observables)

1. observable

   Antonym: inobservable

Related terms

References

• “observable” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.