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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Origin of surf
First recorded in 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin
OTHER WORDS FROM surf
surf·a·ble, adjectivesurf·er, nounsurf·like, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH surf
serf surfWords nearby surf
surefire, surefooted, surely, surety, suretyship, surf, surf 'n' turf, surf and turf, surf boat, surf casting, surf clam
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences 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 of surf
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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Scientific 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.