I. surge 1 /sɜːdʒ $ sɜːrdʒ/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: sourge- , the stem of sourdre 'to rise, surge' , from Latin surgere 'to go right up, rise' , from sub- 'up' + regere 'to lead straight' ]
1 . [always + adverb/preposition] to suddenly move very quickly in a particular direction
surge forward/through etc
The taxi surged forward.
The crowd surged through the gates.
2 . ( also surge up ) if a feeling surges or surges up, you begin to feel it very strongly:
She could feel anger surging inside her.
3 . [usually + adverb/preposition] if a large amount of a liquid, electricity, chemical etc surges, it moves very quickly and suddenly:
A wave surged up towards them.
Adrenalin surged through her veins.
4 . to suddenly increase SYN shoot up :
Oil prices surged.
II. surge 2 BrE AmE noun [countable usually singular]
1 . a surge of something a sudden large increase in a feeling:
a surge of excitement
2 . a sudden increase in amount or number
surge in/of
a surge in food costs
a surge of reporters’ interest in his finances
3 . a sudden movement of a lot of people
surge of
a surge of refugees into the country
4 . a sudden quick movement of a liquid, electricity, chemical etc through something:
a device that protects your computer against electrical surges
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THESAURUS
▪ increase noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when the amount or number of something becomes bigger:
There has been a significant increase in violent crime over the past year.
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price increases
▪ growth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successful:
The astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.
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Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.
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Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.
▪ rise noun [countable] an increase in the amount of something, or in the standard or level of something:
The latest figures show a sharp rise (=a sudden big rise) in unemployment in the region.
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There was a 34 percent rise in the number of armed robberies.
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The majority of families experienced a rise in living standards.
▪ surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interest:
There has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.
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We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.
▪ gain noun [uncountable and countable] an increase in the amount or level of something - used especially in business or political contexts, or when talking about an increase in someone’s weight:
sales gains
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The December job figures show a net gain of 81,000 jobs.
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The party has experienced a gain in popularity.
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The amount of weight gain during pregnancy varies.
▪ hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes - often used in newspaper reports:
Despite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.
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tax hikes
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wage hikes