browsing

Everyday

1. Looking through things in a relaxed way without searching for anything special, as in shops or books. tree →
2. Looking at pages on the internet. tree →
3. (of animals) Eating leaves and twigs from bushes and trees. tree →
4. Browsing can also mean wandering slowly along a place, looking around as you go. tree →

In the lessons

In computing lessons, browsing the web uses a web browser like Chrome, Safari or Firefox; online safety says browse safe sites and tell an adult if you see something upsetting. In the library, «just browsing» means looking at shelves. In science, giraffes and deer are browsers, while cows graze on grass.

Examples

• I am just browsing, thank you. tree →
• We spent an hour browsing in the bookshop. tree →
• Browsing the internet can be fun but stay safe. tree →
• Your browsing history shows which sites you visited. tree →
• The giraffe was browsing on the treetops. tree →
• Dad was browsing the menu for vegetarian food. tree →
• Private browsing does not make you invisible online. tree →
• The sea cows had separated and were browsing lazily along the edges of the finest beaches that Kotick had ever seen. tree →

Note

The -ing form of «browse» (drop the e: browse → browsing). Noun: a browse, a browser (the program). Trap: «private browsing» only stops your own device saving history; your school or internet provider may still see it.