surf
[surf]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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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Origin of surf
First recorded in 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. See wave.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for surf
Contemporary Examples
“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.
Remembering Weezer’s ‘The Blue Album,’ A Garage Rock Classic, on Its 20th AnniversaryAndrew Romano
May 10, 2014
I should say that I surf in Barbados, just to see what happens in Season 5.
‘The Walking Dead’ Star Andrew Lincoln on the Terminus Cannibals Theory & Season FinaleMelissa Leon
March 31, 2014
Historical Examples
On a third effort, the boat got through the surf and we succeeded in reaching the ship.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
There was no wharf, and it was always necessary to get ashore through a surf.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
And the sound—it was like the sound of the surf, but it was continuous.
Happy EndingFredric Brown
Then he remembered that the sound of the surf would give him his directions.
Happy EndingFredric Brown
From without, above the noise of the wind and rain and surf, came a shout.
Thankful's InheritanceJoseph C. Lincoln
surf
- waves breaking on the shore or on a reef
- foam caused by the breaking of waves
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- (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)
- informalto be carried on top of somethingthat guy's surfing the audience
- (in combination)trainsurfing
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Word Origin
C17: probably variant of sough 1
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
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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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
surf
[sûrf]
- The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.