surf

American  

[surf] / sɜrf /

noun

1. the swell of the sea that breaks upon a shore or upon shoals.

2. 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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verb (used without object)

1. to ride a surfboard.

2. to float on the crest of a wave toward shore.

3. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf.

4. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.

verb (used with object)

1. to ride a surfboard on.

   We surfed every big wave in sight.

2. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.

surf British  

/ sɜːf /

noun

1. waves breaking on the shore or on a reef

2. foam caused by the breaking of waves

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verb

1. (intr) to take part in surfing

2. 1. computing (on the internet) to move freely from website to website (esp in the phrase surf the net )

   2. to move freely between (TV channels or radio stations)

3. 1. informal to be carried on top of something

      that guy's surfing the audience

   2. ( in combination )

      trainsurfing

surf Scientific  

/ sûrf /

1. The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef.

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Related Words

See wave.

Other Word Forms

• surfable adjective
• surfer noun
• surflike adjective

Etymology

Origin of surf

First recorded in 1600–10; earlier suff; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

After graduating in 2021, she moved to London and couch surfed for six months, before she got a job as an admin assistant at the Royal Court Theatre on its education team.

From BBC

One morning I went surfing with friends at Bells Beach.

From The Wall Street Journal

So why in the name of beach, surf and sunshine is the volleyball team practicing in the gym?

From Los Angeles Times

Later, he commands the boys to surf and the movie’s surreal take on war snaps into place.

From Los Angeles Times

It was like the wildest storm, when wind and rain crash and great surf waves thunder, except that the wind, the rain, and the waves were all made of fire.

From Literature

Related Words

• swell
• wave