surf
[ surf ]
/ sɜrf /
noun
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.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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.
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Nearby words
surefire, surefooted, surely, surety, suretyship, surf, surf 'n' turf, surf and turf, surf bird, surf boat, surf casting
Origin of surf
First recorded in 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin
Related forms
surf·a·ble, adjectivesurf·er, nounsurf·like, adjectiveCan be confused
serf surfDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for surf
British Dictionary definitions for surf
surf
/ (sɜːf) /
noun
waves breaking on the shore or on a reef
foam caused by the breaking of waves
verb
(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 somethingthat guy's surfing the audience
- (in combination)trainsurfing
Derived Forms
surfable, adjectivesurflike, adjectiveWord 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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Science definitions for surf
surf
[ sûrf ]
The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.