surge / sərj/ • n. a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, esp. by a crowd or by a natural force such as the waves or tide: flooding caused by tidal surges. ∎  a sudden large increase, typically a brief one that happens during an otherwise stable or quiescent period: the firm predicted a 20% surge in sales. ∎  a powerful rush of an emotion or feeling: Sophie felt a surge of anger. ∎  a sudden marked increase in voltage or current in an electric circuit. • v. [intr.] (of a crowd or a natural force) move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward: the journalists surged forward. ∎  increase suddenly and powerfully, typically during an otherwise stable or quiescent period: shares surged to a record high. ∎  (of an emotion or feeling) affect someone powerfully and suddenly: indignation surged up within her. ∎  (of an electric voltage or current) increase suddenly. ∎  Naut. (of a rope, chain, or windlass) slip back with a jerk.

surge An expanded, turbulent, dilute flow of gas and pyroclasts. Three main types are currently recognized. Base surges, which are cold and wet, are generated during phreatomagmatic or phreatic eruptions; ground surges, which are hot and dry, are generated from the head of pyroclastic flows; and ash-cloud surges, which are also hot and dry, are generated from the overriding gas and ash cloud above pyroclastic flows.

surge2 †toss or ride on the waves; †rise, spring; swell or heave, as a large wave XVI; (naut.) slip back, as a rope, etc. XVII. f. OF. sourge-, pres. stem of sourdre :- L. surgere rise, beside surrigere, f. SUB- + regere RULE; or — OF. sorgir (mod. surgir) — L. surgere.

Surge

a high, rolling swell of water.

Examples : surge of buzz of voices, 1891; of contempt, 1602; of low hills, 1863; of lava, 1869; of mishaps, 1583; of passion, 1520; of popular opinion, 1890; of popular resentment, 1834; of schismatics and heretics, 1550; of the sea, 1624; of tears, 1567; of water, 1538.

surge1 †fountain, source XV; rolling swell of the sea XVI; (naut.) slipping back of a rope wound round a capstan XVIII. In the earliest exx. of the first sense tr. OF. sourgeon (mod. surgeon) and prob. — its base sourge-, pres. stem of sourdre (see next).