Surge meaning in English
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Definition
to surge: to rush, to pour, to move forward quickly
As soon as the doors opened, the crowd surged into the concert hall. Some people were injured in the pushing.
a surge: a rush, a flood, a flow; a sudden increase, an eruption
a surge of anger a sudden attack of rage or fury
a surge of adrenaline a sudden rush of excitement
Examples
- "The second world war saw a surge in union membership which peaked during the 1950s, when 36% of the US labor force was unionized."
Exercise 1
Choose the best definition for the terms below.
A "surge" refers to a .
A "steady" decline refers to a decline.
To "peak" means to .
A "surge" refers to a .
A "steady" decline refers to a decline.
To "peak" means to .
Choose the best definition for the terms below.
A "surge" refers to a sudden rise 1.
A "steady" decline refers to a continuing 2 decline.
To "peak" means to reach the highest point 3.
A "surge" refers to a sudden rise 1.
A "steady" decline refers to a continuing 2 decline.
To "peak" means to reach the highest point 3.
1 sudden rise: This is correct. A "surge" is a sudden, sharp increase of something (electricity, popularity, soldiers etc). In the article it states "the second world war saw a surge in union membership", this means that during World War Two the number of workers joining the labor unions suddenly increased.
1 sharp decrease: This is increase. A "sharp decrease" might be called a "plunge", "plummet" or "crash", but not a "surge".
1 gradual emergence: This is incorrect. There is nothing gradual about a "surge".
2 continuing: This is correct. A "steady decline" is a decrease that takes place in a constant and even manner. When the article states that "(the unions") steady decline is not the global trend', it refers to the regular, constant reduction in union power over a long period of time. A "trend" is a prevailing tendency.
2 sharp: This is incorrect. "Steady" is the opposite of "sharp", which in this context describes a sudden or dramatic movement.
2 dramatic: This is incorrect. "Steady" does not mean "dramatic".
3 reach the highest point: This is correct. The verb "to peak" means to "reach the maximum level, highest point or zenith". Similarly, the noun "peak" describes the highest point or top of a mountain or hill. This article states that union membership "peaked during the 1950s". This means that during the 1950s, the number of people who joined a union reached its highest point or maximum level.
3 come to an end: This is incorrect. "To peak" does not mean to come to an end.
3 become well-known: This is incorrect. "To peak" does not mean to become well-known.
Exercise 2
"The power has gone out in your home or office."
Another way to express this is: There has been a power in your home or office.
Another way to express this is: There has been a power in your home or office.
"The power has gone out in your home or office."
Another way to express this is: There has been a power failure in your home or office.
Another way to express this is: There has been a power failure in your home or office.
failure: The phrasal verb "to go out" has several meanings, however in this context it expresses that the power has "failed" or "stopped", and that there is no more power or electricity in the home or office. If a light bulb "goes out", it is dead, or no longer functional. "The power has gone out" shares a similar meaning with "there has been a power failure". A "power failure" refers to a loss of power or electricity (but doesn't specify a reason).
halt: As a noun, "halt" is used to express a lack of movement, or a "stop". Example: The bus rolled to a halt at the bus stop. A "halt" isn't used to express a sudden failure of electricity.
stop: A "power stop" has no real meaning in English. We use the expressions "a power failure" or a "power outage" to refer to the sudden loss of power or electricity.
surge: A power "surge" is a sudden increase of electrical current that "overloads" an electrical circuit. Power surges often cut or disrupt the normal flow of electrical power. Though they are linked, "a power surge" is different than a "power outage" which is a sudden failure of electricity, not a sudden "surge".
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