surf

[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.
verb (used without object)
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.
verb (used with object)
7.
to ride a surfboard on:
We surfed every big wave in sight.
8.
to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.
Origin
1675-85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin
Related forms
surfable, adjective
surfer, noun
surflike, adjective
Can be confused
serf, surf.
Synonyms
1. See wave.
Examples from the web for surf
  • The big waves were also a boon for local businesses, as hotels and surf shops filled up.
  • We stood talking as the waves came in over surf-smoothed rocks.
  • We don't know what the boys think about anything beyond what they think of the water and the waves and the size of the surf.
  • OR else ride the bus, metro, light rail or train and surf for the whole ride.
  • Watch a hippo swim through the surf and elephants stroll the sands.
  • surfers typically refer to wave groups in the surf zone as a set.
  • Cruise by for surf photography, sculpture, and contemporary surf art.
  • There are two kinds of popping that are important to master when learning how to surf.
  • Loose surfboards tumbled between the jagged rocks that separated the surf from the lagoon.
  • surfing is an extremely demanding sport physically, especially in big surf.
British Dictionary definitions for surf

surf

/sɜːf/
noun
1.
waves breaking on the shore or on a reef
2.
foam caused by the breaking of waves
verb
3.
(intransitive) to take part in surfing
4.
  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)
5.
  1. (informal) to be carried on top of something: that guy's surfing the audience
  2. (in combination): trainsurfing
Derived Forms
surfable, adjective
surflike, adjective
Word Origin
C17: probably variant of sough1
Word Origin and History for surf
n.

1680s, probably from earlier suffe (1590s), of uncertain origin. Originally used in reference to the coast of India, hence perhaps of Indic origin. Or perhaps a phonetic respelling of sough, which meant "a rushing sound."

v.

"ride the crest of a wave," 1917, from surf (n.). Related: Surfed; surfing. In the Internet sense, first recorded 1993.

surf in Science
surf
  (sûrf)   
The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef.
Slang definitions & phrases for surf

surf

verb

To move or pass through some range of choices, such as television channels: I surfed from your show/ They're surfing the same part of the zeitgeist

Related Terms

channel surf

[1990s+; fr the ease and rapidity of movement while surfing on waves]