tidal

[tahyd-l]

See more synonyms for tidal on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, pertaining to, characterized by, or subject to tides: a tidal current.
dependent on the state of the tide as to time of departure: a tidal steamer.

Origin of tidal

First recorded in 1800–10; tide¹ + -al¹

Related formstid·al·ly, adverbnon·tid·al, adjectiveun·tid·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for tidal

sinuous, running, rolling, falling, streaming, tidal, full, liquid, smooth, fluid, teeming, rushing, rich, sweeping, brimming, overrun, spouting, issuing, cursive

Examples from the Web for tidal

Contemporary Examples of tidal

In "Pamela 1" Louie wades deeper into the gender pool, doubtlessly inviting a tidal wave of backlash.
Louie Attempts Rape (and Explores the ‘Nice Guy’ Phenomenon)
Amy Zimmerman
June 3, 2014
Tempest, hurricane, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, or Big Bang?
How Marine Le Pen and France’s Ultra-Right Won the Day
Tracy McNicoll
May 26, 2014
But the public indignation that was slow to rise at first is now coming on like a tidal wave.
A Hashtag May Help Rescue Jihadi-Enslaved Nigerian Schoolgirls
Nina Strochlic
May 6, 2014
In the primaries, Jeb Bush just might be drowned in a tidal wave of tea.
Why the GOP Needs a Return to the Bush Leagues
Robert Shrum
April 21, 2014
But this tidal wave of systematic brutality has resulted in only 30 convictions.
War’s Silent Scourge: Sexual Violence Against Women
Peter Westmacott, Melanne Verveer
November 25, 2012

Historical Examples of tidal

I had missed the tidal train, and I represented that this had caused me some inconvenience.
Recollections
David Christie Murray
The tidal wave of progress, once repulsed, is not likely to subside forever.
The Arena
Various
He sat, vaguely hoping there might be tidal waves, earthquakes, cataclysms.
Erik Dorn
Ben Hecht
A great Peruvian earthquake sent a tidal wave into the Red Sea.
Ranching, Sport and Travel
Thomas Carson
Carried by the tidal rush the old tub circled in a great ellipse.
Terry
Charles Goff Thomson

British Dictionary definitions for tidal

tidal

adjective

relating to, characterized by, or affected by tidesa tidal estuary
dependent on the state of the tidea tidal ferry
(of a glacier) reaching the sea and discharging floes or icebergs

Derived Formstidally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tidal

adj.

1807, a hybrid formation from tide (n.) + Latin-derived suffix -al (1). A tidal wave (1830) is properly high water caused by movements of the tides; erroneous use for "tsunami, great ocean wave caused by an earthquake, etc." is recorded from 1878.

tidal in Medicine

tidal

[tīd′l]

adj.

Resembling the tides; alternately rising and falling.