English dictionary — definitions & meanings

surf

noun

The foamy waves that break along a shoreline.

surface

noun

The outer or top layer of something.

surface tension

noun

The force that makes the surface of a liquid behave like a stretched elastic skin, caused by the molecules at the surface pulling more strongly on each other than on the air above.

surfaced

adj

Finished with a particular kind of outer layer or texture.

surfacing

noun

The material used to cover and finish an outer layer, such as a road or floor.

surfboard

noun

A long, buoyant board used for riding waves while standing.

surfeit

adj

Sated; surfeited; filled.

surfer

noun

Someone who rides waves on a surfboard.

Surfers

name

Short form of Surfers Paradise, a popular beach resort suburb on Australia's Gold Coast.

surfing

noun

The sport of riding ocean waves on a board.

surge

noun

A sudden, powerful increase or rush.

surgeon

noun

A doctor who performs operations involving cutting into the body.

surgery

noun

A medical operation that involves cutting into the body to treat an illness or injury.

surgical

adj

Relating to or used in surgery.

surgically

adv

By means of surgery, or with extreme precision.

surging

noun

The act of rising or increasing suddenly and powerfully.

Suri

name

A feminine given name used in several cultures, including as a short form derived from Hebrew "Sarah."

surliness

noun

The property of being surly.

surly

adj

Bad-tempered, unfriendly, and rude in manner.

surmise

verb

To guess or conclude something without solid proof.

surmount

verb

To get or be over without touching or resting on; to overcome.

surmountable

adj

Able to be surmounted or overcome; defeatable.

surmounting

noun

The act by which something is surmounted, or overcome.

surname

noun

A person's family name, usually shared with relatives and passed down through generations.

surpass

verb

To do better than, or go beyond, someone or something.

surpassing

adj

Becoming superior to others; becoming excellent; exceptional; exceeding.

surplice

noun

A liturgical vestment of the Christian Church in the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton material, with wide or moderately wide sleeves, reaching to the hips or knees, usually featuring lace decoration and embroidered bordures.

surplus

noun

An amount left over after what is needed has been used; an excess.

surplusage

noun

A surplus; a superabundance.

surprise

noun

Something unexpected, or the feeling caused by it.

surprised

adj

Feeling or showing astonishment at something unexpected.

surprising

adj

Causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected.

surprisingly

adv

In a way that is unexpected or astonishing.

surreal

adj

Strange and dreamlike, in a way that feels unreal or bizarre.

surrealism

noun

An early 20th-century art movement that explored dreams, the subconscious, and irrational imagery.

surrealist

adj

Relating to surrealism or having a similarly dreamlike, bizarre quality.

surrender

verb

To stop fighting or resisting and give oneself up to an opponent.

surrendering

noun

The act of giving up or submitting to someone else's control.

surreptitious

adj

Stealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements).

surreptitiously

adv

In a surreptitious manner; stealthily, furtively, secretly.

Surrey

noun

A light, open carriage with two facing forward-facing bench seats, originally pulled by a horse; also used loosely for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle.

surrogacy

noun

The practice of carrying and giving birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple.

surrogate

noun

A person or thing that substitutes for another.

surrogatum

noun

A thing put in the place of another; a substitute.

surround

verb

To be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle.

surrounding

noun

An area or environment close to or around something.

surroundings

noun

The area, objects, and conditions around a person or place; an environment.

surrounds

noun

The area or things bordering or close to something; surroundings.

surry

name

A town in Hancock County, Maine, United States.

surtitle

noun

A translation of a segment of the libretto or other text or sometimes a brief summary of the plot projected onto a screen above the stage during a performance of an opera or other similar performance sung in a foreign language; a supertitle.

surveil

verb

To keep someone or something under surveillance.

surveillance

noun

Close, ongoing observation of a person, group, or place, especially to gather information or watch for wrongdoing.

survey

noun

A set of questions used to gather information or opinions from a group of people.

surveying

noun

The science and practice of measuring land — working out exact positions, distances, and boundaries.

surveyor

noun

Someone whose job is to measure land and mark out exact boundaries and positions.

survivable

adj

Able to be survived.

survival

noun

The act or fact of staying alive, especially through danger or difficulty.

survival of the fittest

noun phrase

The principle that the organisms best suited to their environment are the ones most likely to live long enough to reproduce and pass on their traits.

survive

verb

To stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship.

surviving

adj

Still alive or still existing.

survivor

noun

A person who lives through a dangerous or traumatic event.

Surya

name

A given name of Sanskrit origin, also the name of the Hindu sun god.

Sus

adj

Suspicious; looking or feeling questionable (informal slang).

Susan

name

A common female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "lily."

Susanna

name

A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "lily."

Susannah

name

A variant spelling of Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

Susanne

name

A variant of Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

susceptibility

noun

The condition of being susceptible; vulnerability.

susceptible

adj

Likely to be affected, harmed, or influenced by something.

suscitate

verb

To rouse; to excite; to call into life and action.

susette

name

A female given name from French.

sushi

noun

A Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed.

susiana

name

The Greco-Roman name for the ancient state founded by the Elamite civilization, of which Susa became the capital around 2700 BC.

Susie

name

A diminutive form of Susan or Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

suspect

verb

To think that something is probably true, without having proof.

suspected

adj

Believed to be responsible, true, or present, though not confirmed.

suspend

verb

To stop something temporarily, meaning to start it again later.

suspended

adj

Stopped or paused for a time.

suspender

noun

Something or someone who suspends.

suspenders

noun

Straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.

suspense

noun

A feeling of nervous excitement or anxiety while waiting to find out what happens.

suspenseful

adj

Full of tension and uncertainty about what will happen next.

suspension

noun

A temporary stop or delay of something.

suspensor

noun

An athletic support; a jockstrap

suspicion

noun

A feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof.

suspicious

adj

Making people think something is wrong or dishonest.

suspiciously

adv

In a way that suggests something is wrong or dishonest.

suspire

verb

To breathe, especially to exhale

suss

verb

(informal, chiefly British) To work out or figure out something.

sussed

adj

Sorted, organised; figured out, understood.

Sussex

noun

A breed of domestic chicken, reared for both its meat and its eggs, known for its calm temperament and reddish-brown or speckled feathers.

Sussman

name

A surname of German or Jewish origin, meaning "sweet man."

sustah

noun

Pronunciation spelling of sister.

sustain

verb

To keep something going or in existence over time.

sustainability

noun

The capacity to keep something going long-term without depleting resources or causing lasting damage.

sustainable

adj

Able to be maintained or continued over a long period.

sustained

adj

Kept going continuously over a period of time, without dropping off.

sustaining

adj

Providing support, strength, or nourishment.

sustainment

noun

The act of sustaining something.

sustenance

noun

Food, drink, or support that keeps a person or thing alive and functioning.

sustentation

noun

The act or the result of sustaining; sustainment; sustention.

suster

noun

Pronunciation spelling of sister.

susu

noun

An informal savings arrangement, common in West Africa and the Caribbean, where a group of people pool money and take turns receiving the full pot.

susurration

noun

A low and indistinct whispering sound; a murmur.

susurrus

noun

A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

SUSY

name

An affectionate short form of Susan and similar female names.

Sutherland

name

A Scottish surname and place name meaning "southern land," referring to a historic county in the Scottish Highlands.

sutra

noun

A rule, aphorism, or short saying in Sanskrit texts on grammar, law, or philosophy.

Sutter

name

A German surname, historically an occupational name for a shoemaker; notably borne by John Sutter, whose California mill was the site of the 1848 gold discovery.

Sutton

name

A surname and place name found across England, Ireland, Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand — usually marking a town on the southern edge of an older settlement.

suture

noun

A stitch, or the thread used to make it, that closes a wound or surgical cut.

Suwa

name

A city in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, on the shore of Lake Suwa.

sux

verb

Informal spelling of "sucks," meaning something is bad or disappointing.

suya

noun

A marinated spicy kebab from Nigeria.

Suzan

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Susan.

Suzanna

name

A female given name, a variant of Susanna, ultimately from Hebrew.

Suzanne

name

A female given name, the French form of Susanna.

Suze

name

A shortened, affectionate form of Susan, Suzanne, or related names.

Suzette

name

A female given name, a French diminutive of Suzanne.

Suzhou

name

A historic city in Jiangsu province, China, known for its canals, gardens, and silk industry, and often called the "Venice of the East."

Suzi

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

Suzie

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

Suzuki

name

A common Japanese surname.

Suzy

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

svelte

adj

Attractively thin; gracefully slender.

Sven

name

A male given name of Swedish origin.

svengali

noun

A person who controls or manipulates another, often through charm, persuasion, or something close to hypnotic influence — commonly an overbearing mentor or manager.

Svensson

name

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Sven."

Sveta

name

A Russian pet form of the name Svetlana.

Svetlana

name

A female given name common in Slavic, especially Orthodox Christian, countries.

SVG

noun

An image format that stores a picture as a set of shapes, lines and text described in code rather than as a grid of pixels, so it stays sharp at any size.

SVR

name

Russia's foreign intelligence agency, responsible for espionage and intelligence gathering outside the country.

swab

noun

A small pad of absorbent material, often on a stick, used to clean a wound, apply medicine, or collect a sample.

swabbing

noun

The act of one who swabs.

swack

noun

A large number or amount of something.

swag

noun

Free promotional items or merchandise handed out at events, or casually, any collection of nice possessions.

swagbellied

adj

Having a prominent, overhanging belly.

swagbelly

noun

A prominent, overhanging belly.

swagger

verb

To walk or behave with a bold, confident, slightly showy manner.

swagman

noun

A man who travels around with a swag (“bundle of personal items”); specifically, an itinerant person, often seeking work in exchange for food and lodging.

Swahili

name

A Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders.

swain

noun

A young man courting a woman, especially in an old-fashioned or poetic, rural setting.

swale

noun

A low tract of moist or marshy land.

swallow

verb

To move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach.

swallowing

noun

The act of moving food, drink, or saliva from the mouth into the stomach.

swami

noun

A Hindu religious teacher or ascetic, especially one who has taken monastic vows.

swamp

noun

An area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife.

swamped

adj

Overwhelmed with too much to do.

swampy

adj

Wet, soft, and marshy, like a swamp.

Swamy

name

A surname of Hindi origin, related to the title "swami."