Surf n.  The swell of the sea which breaks upon the shore, esp. upon a sloping beach.
 Surf bird Zool., a ploverlike bird of the genus Aphriza, allied to the turnstone.
 Surf clam Zool., a large clam living on the open coast, especially Mactra solidissima (syn. Spisula solidissima). See Mactra.
 Surf duck Zool., any one of several species of sea ducks of the genus Oidemia, especially Oidemia percpicillata; -- called also surf scoter. See the Note under Scoter.
 Surf fish Zool., any one of numerous species of California embiotocoid fishes. See Embiotocoid.
 Surf smelt. Zool. See Smelt.
 Surf whiting. Zool. See under Whiting.


 Em·bi·ot·o·coid a.  Zoöl. Belonging to, or resembling, the Embiotocidæ. -- n. One of a family of fishes (Embiotocidæ) abundant on the coast of California, remarkable for being viviparous; -- also called surf fish and viviparous fish. See Illust. in Appendix.

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 surf fish
      n 1: a fish of the Pacific coast of North America [syn: {yellowfin
           croaker, surffish, Umbrina roncador]
      2: small to medium-sized shallow-water fishes of the Pacific
         coast of North America [syn: surfperch, surffish]