A sudden—and possibly damaging—increase in line voltage. See also surge protector, voltage regulator. Compare power failure, spike.

ETYM Latin surgere, surrectum, to raise, to rise; sub under + regere to direct: cf. Old Fren. surgeon, sourgeon, fountain. Related to Regent, Insurrection, Sortie, Source.
(Homonym: serge).
A sudden or abrupt strong increase; SYN. upsurge.

(Homonym: serge).
Abnormally high tide; see storm surge.

A current of short duration that occurs when power is first applied to capacitive loads or temperature dependent resistive loads such as tungsten or molybdenum heaters-usually lasting no more than several cycles.

A device that prevents surges from reaching a computer or other kinds of electronic equipment. Also called: surge suppressor. See also surge, transient suppressor.

See surge protector. A device inserted in a power line to protect equipment from sudden fluctuations in current; SYN. surge protector, spike suppressor, spike arrester, lightning arrester.

ETYM Old Eng. surgien, Old Fren. surgien, contr. from chirurgien. Related to Chirurgeon.
A physician who specializes in surgery; SYN. operating surgeon, sawbones.

1. The head of the US Public Health Service.
2. The senior medical officer in an army or navy.

Any of several knots used in tying stitches or ligatures.

Brightly colored coral-reef fish with knifelike spines at the tail.
Any fish of the tropical marine family Acanthuridae. It has a flat body up to 50 cm/20 in long, is brightly colored, and has a movable spine on each side of the tail that can be used as a weapon.