surge

[surj] /sɜrdʒ/
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.
the rolling swell of the sea.
4.
the swelling and rolling sea:
The surge crashed against the rocky coast.
5.
a swelling wave; billow.
6.
Meteorology.
  1. a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
  2. storm surge.
7.
Electricity.
  1. a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
  2. a violent oscillatory disturbance.
8.
Nautical. a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.
9.
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, surging.
10.
(of a ship) to rise and fall, toss about, or move along on the waves:
to surge at anchor.
11.
to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves:
The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.
12.
to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force:
Blood surged to his face.
13.
Electricity.
  1. to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
  2. to oscillate violently.
14.
Nautical.
  1. to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
  2. to slip back, as a rope.
15.
Machinery. to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine.
verb (used with object), surged, surging.
16.
to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.
17.
Nautical. to slacken (a rope).
Origin
1480-90; perhaps < Latin surgere to spring up, arise, stand up
Related forms
unsurging, adjective
Can be confused
serge, surge.
Examples from the web for surge
  • The storm came ashore at the time of the high tide, which added to the surge of water being pushed ahead by the hurricane.
  • At the sound of the first shot, the dogs take off toward the seals in a furious surge of energy.
  • Digitizing medical data has been touted as one way to help the already burdened system manage the surge in patients.
  • Most probably new deadly disease will come out and dormant disease will surge.
  • Prohibitions against hunting and attention to protection and food supply in winter feeding grounds have aided the surge.
  • Instead the rain goes into the drains which are totally undesigned for this kind of surge and the result is chronic flooding.
  • But you might be surprised by the second-leading source of the expected surge in traffic.
  • Business owners are overwhelmed by the surge of customers.
  • And it would take a bit of an energy surge to get the space-time bubble going.
  • The space industry has seen a surge in development and initiatives.
British Dictionary definitions for surge

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
10.
(intransitive) (of waves, the sea, etc) to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion
11.
(intransitive) to move like a heavy sea
12.
(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
13.
(intransitive) (of an electric current or voltage) to undergo a large momentary increase
14.
(transitive) (rare) to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves
Derived Forms
surgeless, adjective
surger, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin surgere to rise, from sub- up + regere to lead
Word Origin and History for surge
n.

late 15c., "fountain, stream," probably from Middle French sourge-, stem of sourdre "to rise, swell," from Latin surgere "to rise," contraction of surrigere "to rise," from sub "up from below" + regere "to keep straight, guide" (see regal). Meaning "high, rolling swell of water" is from 1520s; figurative sense of "excited rising up" (as of feelings) is from 1510s.

v.

1510s, from surge (n.). Related: Surged; surging.

surge in Science
surge
  (sûrj)   
A coastal rise in water level caused by wind.
surge in Technology


Sorter, Updater, Report Generator, Etc. IBM 704, 1959. Sammet 1969, p.8.