surfer

UK: /ˈsɜː^rfə^r/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf /sɜrf/   n. [uncountable]

1. the swell of the waves of the sea that breaks upon a shore:
   rough surf during the hurricane.

v. [no object]

2. to go surfing.

surf•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf  (sûrf ), 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:
   We surfed every big wave in sight.
8. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.

• 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin, originally

surf′a•ble, adj. 
surf′er, n. 
surf′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See wave. 

surf, +v.i. 

1. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.

v.t. 

2. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.