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Added 9 October 2026

browse

/bɹaʊz/ noun

In Latin: tondeō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about browse at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Vegetation (such as young shoots, twigs, and leaves) that is suitable for animals to eat.
a deer needs to eat twenty pounds of browse every day
Reading superficially or at random.
The act of feeding by continual nibbling.

verb

Shop around; not necessarily buying.
I don't need help, I'm just browsing
Feed as in a meadow or pasture.
the herd was grazing
Look around casually and randomly, without seeking anything in particular.
browse a computer directory

Origin

From Middle English browsen, from Old French brouster, broster (“to nibble off buds, sprouts, and bark; browse”), from brost (“a sprout, shoot, bud”), from a Germanic source, perhaps Frankish *brust (“shoot, bud”), from Proto-Germanic *brustiz (“bud, shoot”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (“to swell, sprout”). Cognate with Bavarian Bross, Brosst (“a bud”), Old Saxon brustian (“to sprout”). Doublet of brut, breast, and brush.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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