Browser
/ˈbraʊzər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA software application used to access and display websites and other internet resources.
/ˈbraʊzər/
Software for accessing the internet
I need a new browser because this one is too slow.
💡 Simply: A program that lets you look at websites.
More Examples
My browser crashed while I was working.
How It's Used
"I use Chrome as my primary web browser."
"She opened her favorite browser to check the news."
A person who browses; someone who examines or reads casually.
/ˈbraʊzər/
One who browses
She was a keen browser of antique shops.
💡 Simply: Someone who reads or looks at things casually.
More Examples
The browser spent hours reading old books.
How It's Used
"The browser spent hours in the library, enjoying the quiet solitude."
From Middle English *brouser, from Old French *brouser "to browse, graze", from brot "bud, sprout". The modern meaning relating to software emerged in the late 20th century.
The word 'browser' in its older sense of someone who browses or examines casually has existed for centuries, long before the digital age. The modern technical meaning evolved in the late 20th century with the rise of the internet.
Memory tip
Think of browsing a library – a browser helps you navigate the vast library of the internet.
Word Origin
"to browse, graze"