different between improve vs surge

English

Alternative forms

• emprove (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p?u?v/
• Rhymes: -u?v

Verb

improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)

1. (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
2. (intransitive) To become better.

   • “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”

3. (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.

4. (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.

5. (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)

     We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us

   • a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved

   • the court has also an opportunity, which it seldom fails to improve.

   • 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief

     How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.

   • March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter

     True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.

Synonyms

• (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve

Antonyms

• (to make something worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen

Derived terms

• improvement
• improver
• improving

Translations

Further reading

• "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.

English

Etymology

From Middle English surgen, possibly from Middle French sourgir, from Old French surgir (“to rise, ride near the shore, arrive, land”), from Old Catalan surgir, from Latin surg?, contr. of surrig?, subrig? (“lift up, raise, erect; intransitive rise, arise, get up, spring up, grow, etc.”, transitive verb), from sub (“from below; up”) + reg? (“to stretch”); see regent.

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: sûrj IPA^(key): /s?d?/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /s??d?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)d?
• Homophone: serge

Noun

surge (plural surges)

1. A sudden transient rush, flood or increase.

2. The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's forward/backward oscillation
3. (electricity) A sudden electrical spike or increase of voltage and current.

4. (aviation) A momentary reversal of the airflow through the compressor section of a jet engine due to disruption of the airflow entering the engine's air intake, accompanied by loud banging noises, emission of flame, and temporary loss of thrust.
5. (nautical) The swell or heave of the sea. (FM 55-501).
   • 1901, Bible (American Standard Version), James i. 6

     He that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

   • He flies aloft, and, with impetuous roar, / Pursues the foaming surges to the shore.

6. (obsolete) A spring; a fountain.
   • 1523-1525, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Froissart's Chronicles

     all great rivers are gorged and assembled of various surges and springs of water

7. The tapered part of a windlass barrel or a capstan, upon which the cable surges, or slips.

Synonyms

• inrush

Derived terms

• countersurge
• surgeless

Translations

Verb

surge (third-person singular simple present surges, present participle surging, simple past and past participle surged)

1. (intransitive) To rush, flood, or increase suddenly.

   • Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations.
2. To accelerate forwards, particularly suddenly.
3. (transitive, nautical) To slack off a line.

Related terms

• source

Translations

References

• surge in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• surge in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• FM 55-501

Anagrams

• Ruges, grues, urges

Italian

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -urd?e

Verb

surge

1. third-person singular present indicative of surgere

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?sur.?e/, [?s??r??]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?sur.d??e/, [?surd???]

Verb

surge

1. second-person singular present active imperative of surg?
   • (Matt. IX. v.5)

            Arise, and walk. (KJV)

Portuguese

Verb

surge

1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of surgir
2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of surgir

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?su?xe/, [?su?.xe]

Verb

surge

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of surgir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of surgir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of surgir.