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Abundance vs Surplus - What's the difference?

abundance | surplus |

As nouns the difference between abundance and surplus

is that abundance is a large quantity; many while surplus is that which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.

As an adjective surplus is

being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.

abundance

English

(wikipedia abundance)

Alternative forms

* (obsolete) abundaunce * (obsolete) habundance * (obsolete) boundance * (card games) abondance

Noun

(en noun)
  • A large quantity; many.
  • An overflowing fullness or ample sufficiency; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; plentifulness.
  • * (rfdate) (Sir Walter Raleigh)
    • It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state.
  • Wealth; affluence; plentiful amount of resources.
  • Frequency, amount, ratio of something within a given environment or sample.
  • (card games) A bid to take nine or more tricks in solo whist.

    • Usage notes

    * Synonym notes: Abundance , Plenty]], [[exuberance, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness. ** Plenty'' denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, ''plenty'' of food, ''plenty of money, etc. ** Abundance'' express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, ''abundance'' of riches, an ''abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. ** Exuberance'' rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an ''exuberance'' of mirth, an ''exuberance of animal spirits, etc.

    Synonyms

    * exuberance, plenteousness, plenty, copiousness, overflow, riches, affluence, wealth

    Related terms

    * abound * abundant

    References

    *

    surplus

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • That which remains when use or need is satisfied, or when a limit is reached; excess; overplus.
  • Specifically, an amount in the public treasury at any time greater than is required for the ordinary purposes of the government.
  • (legal) The remainder of a fund appropriated for a particular purpose.
  • (legal) assets left after liabilities and debts, including capital stock have been deducted.

    • Antonyms

    * lack * deficit

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being or constituting a surplus; more than sufficient; as, surplus revenues; surplus population; surplus words.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=A better waterworks, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
    • , page=5 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.}}