ˈsə:pləs n. & adj. --n. 1 an
amount left
over when requirements
have been met. 2 a an
excess of
revenue over
expenditure in a
given period,
esp. a
financial year (opp. DEFICIT). b
the excess
value of a company's assets over the
face value of
its stock. --adj.
exceeding what is needed or used. øsurplus value Econ. the
difference between the value of
work done and wages
paid. [ME f. AF surplus, OF s(o)urplus f. med.L superplus (as
SUPER-, +
plus more)]