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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]

2 N‑VAR If you say that a particular conclusion is surmise , you mean that it is a guess based on the available evidence and you do not know for certain that it is true. [FORMAL ] □  It is mere surmise that Bosch had Brant's poem in mind when doing this painting. □  His surmise proved correct.

sur|mount /sə ^r maʊ nt/ (surmounts , surmounting , surmounted ) VERB If you surmount a problem or difficulty, you deal successfully with it. □ [V n] I realized I had to surmount the language barrier.

sur|name /sɜː ^r ne I m/ (surnames ) N‑COUNT Your surname is the name that you share with other members of your family. In English speaking countries and many other countries it is your last name. □  She'd never known his surname.

sur|pass /sə ^r pɑː s, -pæ s/ (surpasses , surpassing , surpassed )

1 VERB If one person or thing surpasses another, the first is better than, or has more of a particular quality than, the second. □ [V n] He was determined to surpass the achievements of his older brothers. □ [V -ed] Warwick Arts Centre is the second largest Arts Centre in Britain, surpassed in size only by London's Barbican.

2 VERB If something surpasses expectations, it is much better than it was expected to be. □ [V n] Conrad Black gave an excellent party that surpassed expectations.

sur|plice /sɜː ^r pl I s/ (surplices ) N‑COUNT A surplice is a loose white knee-length garment which is worn over a longer garment by priests and members of the choir in some churches. □  …the priest and choir in their lace surplices.

sur|plus ◆◇◇ /sɜː ^r pləs/ (surpluses )

1 N‑VAR If there is a surplus of something, there is more than is needed. □ [+ of ] Germany suffers from a surplus of teachers.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n, Also v-link ADJ to n] Surplus is used to describe something that is extra or that is more than is needed. □  Few people have large sums of surplus cash. □  The houses are being sold because they are surplus to requirements.

3 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If a country has a trade surplus , it exports more than it imports. □  Japan's annual trade surplus is in the region of 100 billion dollars.

4 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If a government has a budget surplus , it has spent less than it received in taxes. □  The Government also runs a modest budget surplus.

sur|prise ◆◆◇ /sə ^r pra I z/ (surprises , surprising , surprised )

1 N‑COUNT A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news. □  I have a surprise for you: We are moving to Switzerland! □ [+ to ] It may come as a surprise to some that a child is born with many skills. □  It is perhaps no surprise to see another 80s singing star attempting a comeback. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Surprise is also an adjective. □  Baxter arrived here this afternoon, on a surprise visit.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Surprise is the feeling that you have when something unexpected happens. □  The Foreign Office in London has expressed surprise at these allegations. □  'You mean he's going to vote against her?' Scobie asked in surprise. □  I started working hard for the first time in my life. To my surprise, I liked it.