Hjørland (2011a) suggests, however, that browsing is an activity that is governed by our metatheories. , for example, has this definition: "to glance at random through a book, magazine, etc.". In short: Human browsing is based on our conceptions and interests.īrowsing is often understood as a random activity. According to Hjørland (2011a), on the other hand, Marcia Bates' browsing for information about browsing is governed by her behavioral assumptions, while Hjørland's browsing for information about browsing is governed by his socio-cultural understanding of human psychology. Bates found that browsing is rooted in our history as exploratory, motile animals hunting for food and nesting opportunities. Marcia Bates (2007) researched browsing from "behavioural" approaches, while Hjørland (2011a+b) defended a social view. It is a kind of orienting strategy that is formed by our "theories", "expectations" and "subjectivity".Īs with any kind of human psychology, browsing can be understood in biological, behavioral, or cognitive terms on the one hand or in social, historical, and cultural terms on the other hand. Hjørland (2011b) provided the following definition: " Browsing is a quick examination of the relevance of a number of objects which may or may not lead to a closer examination or acquisition/selection of (some of) these objects. 3 Browsing versus analytical search strategies.I was browsing through a magazine at the station bookstall when I noticed Susan.We browsed through a few travel books to get some ideas of where to go.In the next window, browse to the file's location on your hard drive and select it, then click Next.Stella browsed through the newspaper under the lamp outside the stage door.He found Jill in the gallery shop silently browsing through some books.We browse through my cookbooks, perusing recipes, not as formulas or prescriptions but as hints and inspirations for impromptu inventions.One company said that up to half of their employees spend over an hour's work time a day browsing the web.It's easy to spend hours just browsing the web without really finding anything.When you browse the Web, various Web sites can read that file and write data into it.Browsing the net one afternoon, I came across Tom's homepage.Learn to browse, seeking out unfamiliar authors and new books alike.While San Mateo is a pleasant destination for home shopping and browsing, it also has excellent restaurants and cafes.
Armando spent the afternoon browsing in Camden market.Treat yourself to something special, or simply browse at leisure.
Forms make Web browsing an interactive process for the user and the provider.→ See Verb table Examples from the Corpus browse tourists browsing the boutiques and souvenir stalls 3 to search for information on a computer or on the Internet a feature that allows you to browse your hard drive and choose the graphic you want to display 4 EAT if a goat, deer etc browses, it eats plants - browse noun We had a quick browse around the shops. 2 LOOK AT to look at the goods in a shop without wanting to buy any particular thing browse around The trip allows you plenty of time for browsing around the shops. ○ verb 1 READ to look through the pages of a book, magazine etc without a particular purpose, just looking at the most interesting parts browse through Jon was browsing through the photographs.
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: Computers browse browse / braʊz /