English Dictionary

Definition of “surge”

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surge (sɜːdʒPronunciation for surge) 

Definitions

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. (tr) rare to cause to move in or as if in a wave or waves

Alternative Forms

ˈsurgeless adjective ˈsurger noun

Word Origin

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

Translations

  • British English: surge Pronunciation for surge A surge is a sudden large increase in something that has previously been steady, or has only increased or developed slowly.Specialists see various reasons for the recent surge in inflation.sɜːdʒ NOUN Specialists see various reasons for the recent surge in inflation.
  • Spanish: subida de tensiónPronunciation for subida de tensión nf
  • French: déferlement Pronunciation for déferlement nm
  • German: Anschwellen Pronunciation for Anschwellen nnt
  • Chinese: 涌流Pronunciation for 涌流 n
  • Arabic: اِنْدِفَاعPronunciation for اِنْدِفَاع n
  • Portuguese: aumento repentinoPronunciation for aumento repentino nm
  • Russian: большая волнаPronunciation for большая волна nf
  • Croatian: iznenadan porastPronunciation for iznenadan porast nm
  • Czech: prudký vzestupPronunciation for prudký vzestup nm
  • Danish: bølgePronunciation for bølge nutr
  • Dutch: opwellingPronunciation for opwelling nf
  • Finnish: äkillinen nousuPronunciation for äkillinen nousu n
  • Greek: φουσκοθαλασσιάPronunciation for φουσκοθαλασσιά nf
  • Italian: aumentoPronunciation for aumento nm
  • Japanese: 高まりPronunciation for 高まり n
  • Korean: 격동Pronunciation for 격동 n
  • Norwegian: plutselig økningPronunciation for plutselig økning nm
  • Polish: spiętrzona falaPronunciation for spiętrzona fala nf
  • Brazilian Portuguese: aumento repentinoPronunciation for aumento repentino nm
  • European Spanish: subida de tensiónPronunciation for subida de tensión nf
  • Swedish: tillströmningPronunciation for tillströmning nutr
  • Thai: การเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็วPronunciation for การเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว n
  • Turkish: ani yükselmePronunciation for ani yükselme n
  • Vietnamese: sự tăng lên đột ngộtPronunciation for sự tăng lên đột ngột n

Usage examples

  • A surge of compressed air whooshed through the line, flooding the Tank.
    Terman, Douglas, Cormorant (1994)
  • Reports such as the location of the Saucy Jack high on the marshes allow researchers to estimate the storm surge values.
    New Scientist (2003)
  • The story of a surge in applications is much the same at other small universities.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Bus and coach companies are preparing for a surge in demand.
    Glasgow Herald (2002)
  • In a riverine estuary, a storm surge at the right tide could sweep tons of saltwater over riverside cropland for 50 miles or more.
    Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy, The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'S'

Related Terms

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