surf
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surf
the swell of the sea breaking on shore or reefs; the foam produced by this; to ride the surf as with a surfboard; to search through a computer network for information: surf the Web
Not to be confused with:
serf – a person in a condition of servitude; vassal, peasant
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
surf
(sûrf)n.
The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or reef.
v. surfed, surf·ing, surfs
v.intr.
1. To engage in surfing.
2. Informal To look at a variety of things casually, especially while browsing the internet or television channels.
v.tr.
1.
a. To ride on or along (a wave) on a surfboard.
b. To engage in surfing at: had never surfed Malibu Beach.
2. Informal To browse (the internet or television channels, for example).
[Origin unknown.]
surf′er n.
surf′y adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
surf
(sɜːf)n
1. (Physical Geography) waves breaking on the shore or on a reef
2. (Physical Geography) foam caused by the breaking of waves
vb
3. (Swimming, Water Sports & Surfing) (intr) to take part in surfing
4. (Computer Science) computing (on the internet) to move freely from website to website (esp in the phrase surf the net)
5. to move freely between (TV channels or radio stations)
6.
a. informal to be carried on top of something: that guy's surfing the audience.
b. (in combination): trainsurfing.
[C17: probably variant of sough1]
ˈsurfable adj
ˈsurfˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
surf
(sɜrf)n.
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, esp. a shallow or sloping shore.
v.i. 3. to ride a surfboard.
4. to float on the crest of a wave toward shore.
5. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf.
6. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.
v.t. 7. to ride a surfboard on.
8. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.
[1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain orig.]
surf′a•ble, adj.
surf′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
surf
Past participle: surfed
Gerund: surfing
Imperative |
---|
surf |
surf |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() moving ridge, wave - one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water) |
Verb | 1. | surf - ride the waves of the sea with a surfboard; "Californians love to surf" glide - move smoothly and effortlessly windsurf - ride standing on a surfboard with an attached sail, on water; "You cannot windsurf when the air is completely still" |
2. | surf - look around casually and randomly, without seeking anything in particular; "browse a computer directory"; "surf the internet or the world wide web" | |
3. | surf - switch channels, on television |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
surf
[sɜːf]A. N (= waves) → olas fpl, rompientes mpl; (= foam) → espuma f; (= swell) → oleaje m; (= current) → resaca f
B. VI → hacer surf
C. VT
1. (lit) → hacer surf en
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
surf
(səːf) noun the foam made as waves break on rocks or on the shore. The children were playing in the white surf.espuma
verb1. to ride on a surfboard as a sport. hacer surf
2. to look for interesting sites on the Internet. navegar
surfer nounˈsurfing noun (also ˈsurf-riding).
1. the sport of riding on a surfboard. surf
2. looking for interesting sites on the Internet. navegar
ˈsurfboard noun a board on which a bather rides towards shore on the surf. plancha/tabla de surf
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
surf
→ hacer surf , oleajeMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009