surplus: Meaning and Definition of

sur•plus

Pronunciation: (sûr'plus, -plus), [key]
— n., adj., v., -plussedor-plused, -plus•singor-plus•ing.
—n.
  1. something that remains above what is used or needed.
  2. an amount, quantity, etc., greater than needed.
  3. agricultural produce or a quantity of food grown by a nation or area in excess of its needs, esp. such a quantity of food purchased and stored by a governmental program of guaranteeing farmers a specific price for certain crops.
    1. the excess of assets over liabilities accumulated throughout the existence of a business, excepting assets against which stock certificates have been issued; excess of net worth over capital-stock value.
    2. an amount of assets in excess of what is requisite to meet liabilities.
—adj.
  1. being a surplus; being in excess of what is required: surplus wheat.
—v.t.
  1. to treat as surplus; sell off; retire: The government surplussed some of its desert lands.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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