surf zone

American

[surf zohn] / ˈsɜrf ˌzoʊn /

noun

plural

surf zones

Also called breaker zone. the area of foamy water where incoming waves begin to break.

surf zone Scientific

See breaker zone

Other Word Forms

surf-zone adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Sunday, the researchers started by launching a drone from the pitching deck of their boat to get a bird’s-eye view of the large, dark shapes meandering lazily through the surf zone.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

The search continued on Thursday as National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said strong rip currents could have swept Narjissi into the surf zone and out to sea.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2024

Rip currents are narrow currents in the surf zone that move quickly away from shore.

From Scientific American • Jul. 25, 2023

Florida’s Cocoa Beach was named the second deadliest beach for having seven shark attacks and seven surf zone fatalities.

From Washington Times • Feb. 2, 2023

The combined effects of sediment transport within the surf zone by the longshore current and sediment movement along the beach by swash and backwash is known as longshore drift.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023