surge

[ surj ]

noun

1. a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep:

   the onward surge of an angry mob.

2. a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something:

   a billowing surge of smoke.

3. a sudden, strong increase or burst:

   a surge of energy; surges of emotion.

4. Military. a significant increase in the number of troops deployed to an area.
5. the rolling swell of the sea.
6. the swelling and rolling sea:

   The surge crashed against the rocky coast.

7. a swelling wave; billow.
8. Meteorology.
   1. a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
   2. storm surge.
9. Electricity.
   1. a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
   2. a violent oscillatory disturbance.
10. Nautical. a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.
11. Machinery.
    1. an uneven flow and strong momentum given to a fluid, as water in a tank, resulting in a rapid, temporary rise in pressure.
    2. pulsating unevenness of motion in an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used without object)

, surged, surg·ing.

1. (of a ship) to rise and fall, toss about, or move along on the waves:

   to surge at anchor.

2. to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves:

   The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.

3. to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force:

   Blood surged to his face.

4. Electricity.
   1. to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
   2. to oscillate violently.
5. Nautical.
   1. to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
   2. to slip back, as a rope.
6. Machinery. to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine.

verb (used with object)

, surged, surg·ing.

1. to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.
2. Nautical. to slacken (a rope).

surge

/ sɜːdʒ /

noun

1. a strong rush or sweep; sudden increase

   a surge of anger

2. the rolling swell of the sea, esp after the passage of a large wave
3. a heavy rolling motion or sound

   the surge of the trumpets

4. an undulating rolling surface, as of hills
5. a billowing cloud or volume
6. nautical a temporary release or slackening of a rope or cable
7. a large momentary increase in the voltage or current in an electric circuit
8. an upward instability or unevenness in the power output of an engine
9. astronomy a short-lived disturbance, occurring during the eruption of a solar flare

verb

1. intr (of waves, the sea, etc) to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion
2. intr to move like a heavy sea
3. nautical to slacken or temporarily release (a rope or cable) from a capstan or (of a rope, etc) to be slackened or released and slip back
4. intr (of an electric current or voltage) to undergo a large momentary increase
5. rare.
   tr to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves

surge

/ sûrj /

1. A coastal rise in water level caused by wind.

Derived Forms

• ˈsurgeless, adjective
• ˈsurger, noun

Other Words From

• un·surging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surge¹

First recorded in 1480–90; perhaps from Latin surgere “to arise, stand up,” contracted from surrigere, from sur- sur- ²( def ) + -rigere, combining form of regere “to make straight, guide, rule”

Word History and Origins

Origin of surge¹

C15: from Latin surgere to rise, from sub- up + regere to lead

Example Sentences

“So he has a reason for everything,” says a visibly delighted Golijov, who answered Coppola’s call for that scene by writing a shimmering, surging love theme.

From Los Angeles Times

The findings are significant and come at a time when whooping cough cases are surging.

From Science Daily

Just in: The retailing giant raised its sales outlook for the year, after a strong quarter fueled by surging e-commerce activity and robust demand from higher-income consumers.

From New York Times

Take a look at the stock market surge that followed Donald Trump's victory and how it has since cooled.

From Salon

A man who accidentally binned a hard drive containing Bitcoin says it is now worth more than £500m following recent price surges.

From BBC

Related Words

• deluge
• flood
• flow
• growth
• outpouring
• rise
• swell
• upsurge
• wave