surface cracks
Skin-deep splits
Surface cracks are fractures or fissures that appear on the outer layer of a material—concrete, paint, skin, pottery.
The term emphasizes that damage is visible but shallow, not penetrating the full depth: The inspector noted surface cracks in the foundation but no structural compromise.
Figuratively, surface cracks suggest early signs of deeper problems: Surface cracks in their marriage had been showing for years.
- fissuresNarrow splits in material
- fracturesBreaks in rigid material
- hairline fracturesMinuscule cracks in bone
- crazingFine surface fracture pattern
- hairlineScalp-skin boundary
stress lines · splits · weathered · concrete · peeling · dried · mud · pottery · glaze · stress · brittle · aging · spiderweb · alligator skin · pattern · check pattern · fine lines · chipped
surface cracksstructural collapse
Framework giving way
shattering · disintegration · critical failure · total destruction
surface, crack, surfaces, surfaced, surfacing, resurface, resurfaced, resurfacing, cracks