sur

[ sur ]

/ sɜr /

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preposition Law.

upon; on the basis of: sur mortgage.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sur

<French <Latin supersuper-

Other definitions for sur (2 of 4)

Sur

[ soor ]

/ sʊər /

noun

a town in S Lebanon, on the Mediterranean Sea: site of ancient port of Tyre.

Other definitions for sur (3 of 4)

sur-¹

a prefix meaning “over, above,” “in addition,” occurring mainly in loanwords from French and partial calques of French words: surcharge; surname; surrender; survive.

Compare super-.

Origin of sur-

Middle English <Old French <Latin super-super-

Other definitions for sur (4 of 4)

sur-²

variant of sub- before r: surrogate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sur in a sentence

In 1944, the Nazis slaughtered the 642 residents of Oradour-sur-Glane in France.
There Should Be No Statute of Limitations on Prosecuting War Crimes|Michael Moynihan|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bic Owens, the costume designer of Big Sur, is very talented.
Kate Bosworth Is Back and Crazy in Love|Erin Cunningham|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
On top of the release of Big Sur, your second collection for Topshop also debuted this week.
Kate Bosworth Is Back and Crazy in Love|Erin Cunningham|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Then when we were in Big Sur, Michael changed her palette to different shades of green.
Kate Bosworth Is Back and Crazy in Love|Erin Cunningham|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Once the 50 kilos leave the lab, they must pass through the territory of the cartel Pacifico Sur and the Sinaloa cartel.
The Devil’s Drug: The True Story of Meth in New Mexico|Nick Romeo|August 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
On estoit sur le poinct de faire tabagie ou convive solemnel sur son dernier adieu.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Car les Angloys s'en veulent dire maistres, et sur ce ils produysoyent des lettres de leur Roy, mais ce que nous croyons fausses.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ce qu'il fit dressant sur le havre une fort belle croix, avec les armes de France.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Neantmoins Monsieur de Biancourt se tenoit tousiours sur ses gardes, et souvent faisoit marcher la chaloupe devant avec la sonde.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Sur le confluant des deux rivieres, y avoit la plus belle assemble des Sauvages que j'aye point encore veue.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sur (1 of 3)

Sur

Sour

/ (sʊə) /

noun

transliteration of the Arabic name for Tyre

British Dictionary definitions for sur (2 of 3)

sur-¹

prefix

over; above; beyondsurcharge; surrealism Compare super-

Word Origin for sur-

from Old French, from Latin super-

British Dictionary definitions for sur (3 of 3)

sur-²

prefix

a variant of sub- surrogate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012