browser

browser — noun

1. software that lets you open, read, and move between pages on the internet

1.nounB2
Definition

software that lets you open, read, and move between pages on the internet

Example

After the update, Mei's browser stopped saving her school password.

browser + save password

Please close your browser before the library computers restart.

imperative: close your browser

Common collocations
  • default browser
  • browser tab
  • browser window
  • browser history
  • mobile browser
Synonyms
  • web browser

    the full computing term for this software

  • internet browser

    a longer everyday label with the same meaning

  • app

    much broader; many apps are not used for viewing web pages

Grammar Patterns

open a browser

in your browser

browser + tab/window/history

Usage Note

Distinguish from search engine: a browser is the tool that shows the page, while a search engine helps you find the page. Common objects include tabs, windows, bookmarks, and history.

Common Mistakes

Open the class page in your search engine.
Open the class page in your browser.
A search engine helps you find a page; a browser is where the page opens.

2. someone who is only checking books or shop items, not ready to buy

2.noun
Definition

someone who is only checking books or shop items, not ready to buy

Example

At noon, browsers filled the market's hat stall but bought nothing.

browser contrasted with buying

The comic shop welcomes browsers, so Noa stayed for an hour.

Common collocations
  • casual browser
  • weekend browsers
  • curious browsers
  • browsers and buyers
  • shop browser
Synonyms
  • shopper

    broader; a shopper may already plan to buy

  • customer

    usually suggests someone who actually buys something

  • window-shopper

    more specific to looking at goods without buying

Antonyms
  • buyer

    someone who makes a purchase rather than only looking

Grammar Patterns

browsers in the shop

browser at the stall

browsers and buyers

Usage Note

Often used by shop staff to separate people who are only looking from people who are ready to buy. For people on a website, visitor or user is usually more natural.

Common Mistakes

Our website had 500 browsers yesterday.
Our website had 500 visitors yesterday.
For people online, visitor is more natural; browser usually names software, or a person looking around goods or books.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, browser and web browser both name the software used to open web pages. Web browser is the fuller and more exact label, especially in technical writing. App is much broader, because a browser is only one kind of app. Search engine is a common learner confusion: Google or Bing helps you find a page, but the browser is the program where the page opens. Website is different again, because it is the content you visit, not the tool you use. You can say, 'Chrome is my main browser,' but 'Google is my main search engine.' You can also say, 'The school website opens faster in this browser.'

browser ↗web browserapp ↗search enginewebsite ↗

Etymology

English

Browser was formed in English from browse and the suffix -er. It first meant a person who looks through things casually, and later it was also used for software that lets people look through information on the internet.