Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for surf on Thesaurus.com the swell of the sea that breaks upon a shore or upon shoals. the mass or line of foamy water caused by the breaking of the sea upon a shore, especially a shallow or sloping shore. Show More
verb (used without object) to ride a surfboard . to float on the crest of a wave toward shore. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television. Show More
to ride a surfboard on: We surfed every big wave in sight. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment. Show More
Origin of surf First recorded in 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin
Related forms surf·a·ble , adjective surf·er , noun surf·like , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for surf Contemporary Examples of surf “I saw the moment when they looked down and saw this old couple having sex in the surf ,” says Carlucci.
Others plan where to paddle into the surf off Black's Beach to catch a wave when the big breakers start rolling in.
Perhaps thanks to the surf and turf and the stellar Bordeaux and Sauvignon Blanc, there were no lost tempers.
Even "Surf Wax America," a seemingly innocuous homage to The Beach Boys' early hits, morphed into a meditation on drowning.
I should say that I surf in Barbados, just to see what happens in Season 5.
Historical Examples of surf On a third effort, the boat got through the surf and we succeeded in reaching the ship.
There was no wharf, and it was always necessary to get ashore through a surf .
And the sound—it was like the sound of the surf , but it was continuous.
Then he remembered that the sound of the surf would give him his directions.
From without, above the noise of the wind and rain and surf , came a shout.
British Dictionary definitions for surf waves breaking on the shore or on a reef foam caused by the breaking of waves Show More
(intr) to take part in surfing computing (on the internet) to move freely from website to website (esp in the phrase surf the net ) to move freely between (TV channels or radio stations) informal to be carried on top of something that guy's surfing the audience (in combination ) trainsurfing Show More
Derived Forms surfable , adjective surflike , adjective Word Origin for surf C17: probably variant of sough 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for surf n. 1680s, probably from earlier suffe (1590s), of uncertain origin. Originally used in reference to the coast of India, hence perhaps of Indic origin. Or perhaps a phonetic respelling of sough , which meant "a rushing sound."
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v. "ride the crest of a wave," 1917, from surf (n.). Related: Surfed ; surfing . In the Internet sense, first recorded 1993.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef. Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
