surfing

[ sur-fing ]
/ ˈsɜr fɪŋ /

noun

the act or sport of riding the surf, as on a surfboard.

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Also called surfriding.

Origin of surfing

First recorded in 1915–20; surf + -ing1

Words nearby surfing

surfer's knobs, surfer's knot, surffish, surficial, surfie, surfing, surfing music, surfing the web, surfperch, surfriding, surfy

Definition for surfing (2 of 2)

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.

Origin of surf

First recorded in 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR surf

1 See wave.

OTHER WORDS FROM surf

surf·a·ble, adjectivesurf·er, nounsurf·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH surf

serf surf
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for surfing

British Dictionary definitions for surfing (1 of 2)

surfing
/ (ˈsɜːfɪŋ) /

noun

the sport of riding towards shore on the crest of a wave by standing or lying on a surfboard

Derived forms of surfing

surfer or surfrider, noun

British Dictionary definitions for surfing (2 of 2)

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
  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)
  1. informal to be carried on top of somethingthat guy's surfing the audience
  2. (in combination)trainsurfing

Derived forms of surf

surfable, adjectivesurflike, adjective

Word 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for surfing

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.