surf
surf
UK[sɜːf]US[sɜːrf]
v
to ride on ocean waves while standing or lying on a special board
v
to look at various things on the internet, especially in a casual way
n
the mass of white bubbles formed by waves as they fall onto the shore or onto rocks
Etymology
the word 'surf' first appeared in english in the late 17th century, likely as an alteration of the earlier 'suff', which meant the shoreward surge of the sea. its ultimate origin is uncertain, but it is thought to be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of waves breaking on the shore. the term was originally a noun describing the foamy swell of the sea. the verb sense, meaning to ride on waves, developed in the early 20th century with the rise of the sport in hawaii and california. the modern computing sense, 'to browse the internet', is a metaphorical extension from the 1990s, likening the rapid, gliding movement through data to riding waves.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword whose spelling and form were not created by combining classical morphemes within english.
Examples
we spent the afternoon learning to surf on the north shore.
he likes to surf the web for news about his favorite sports teams.
the roar of the surf could be heard from our hotel room.