browser

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablecomputing

   A program that lets you open and view pages on the internet.

   Grammar: Often used with the name of the program: the Chrome browser.

   Patterns

   • open a browser
   • in your browser

   Open your browser and type in the address.

   The site works in every major browser.

   Clear your browser history to free space.

2. 2nouncountable

   A person who looks around a shop or collection without a plan to buy.

   Grammar: Contrasts with buyer: she is a browser, not a buyer.

   The bookshop welcomes browsers as well as buyers.

   He is a casual browser who rarely purchases.

   The clerk left the browsers alone.

3. 3nouncountablebiology

   An animal that feeds on leaves and shoots of shrubs and trees.

   Grammar: Contrasted with grazer: giraffes are browsers.

   Deer are browsers that eat twigs and buds.

   Unlike grazers, browsers prefer woody plants.

Word forms

Common combinations

web browser

A web browser displays pages.

open a browser

Open a browser and search the site.

browser window

Close the browser window.

browser history

He cleared his browser history.

update your browser

You may need to update your browser.

Synonyms and how they differ

search engine

A search engine finds pages, while a browser is the program used to display them.

window shopper

A window shopper only looks at displays, a narrower idea than a browser inside a shop.

grazer

A grazer eats grass, whereas a browser eats leaves and twigs.

Opposites

Word family

browse verb

to look through casually

browsing noun

the act of looking around

browsable adjective

easy to look through

Commonly confused: browser or search engine?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “browser”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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