surging

Variant of surge

noun

    1. a large mass of or as of moving water; wave; swell; billow
    2. such waves or billows collectively or in a series
  1. a movement of or like that of a mass of water; violent rolling, sweeping, or swelling motion: the surge of the sea
  2. a sudden, sharp increase of electric current or voltage in a circuit
  3. any sudden, strong increase, as of energy, enthusiasm, etc.
  4. Naut.
    1. the concave part of a capstan or windlass, upon which the rope surges, or slips
    2. such a surging, or slipping

Origin: LME sourge, fountain, stream, prob. < OFr sourgeon < stem of sourdre, to rise < L surgere, to rise, spring up < *subsregere < subs-, var. of sub- (see sub-) + regere, to direct (see right)

intransitive verb surged, surging

  1. to have a heavy, violent swelling motion; move in or as in a surge or surges
  2. to rise and fall or be tossed about on waves, as a ship
  3. to increase suddenly or abnormally: said of electric current or voltage
  4. to slip, as a rope or cable on a capstan or windlass

Origin: < OFr sourg-, stem of sourdre: see surgethe

transitive verb

to slacken or release (a rope or cable) suddenly
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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