tidal

[tahyd-l]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or subject to tides: tide.

   a tidal current.

2. dependent on the state of the tide as to time of departure.

   a tidal steamer.

tidal

/ ˈtaɪdəl /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or affected by tides

   a tidal estuary

2. dependent on the state of the tide

   a tidal ferry

3. (of a glacier) reaching the sea and discharging floes or icebergs

Other Word Forms

• tidally adverb
• nontidal adjective
• untidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tidal¹

First recorded in 1800–10; tide ¹ + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“It’s like the beginning of a tidal wave,” said Peggy Wheeler, vice president of policy of the California Hospital Association.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In its effort to protect its members from a tidal wave of sports-event contracts, the AGA’s stance is that prediction-market companies are simply trying to avoid state regulation.

Read more on MarketWatch

Thomas noted that even small tidal forces reveal how rapidly stress can rebuild.

Read more on Science Daily

Secondly, the tidal currents were particularly strong, continuously turning up the silt and sand of the ocean floor that made visibility almost impossible at times.

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“I had a sad and uneasy feeling that we were somehow being swept apart by a huge tidal wave over which we had no control,” mourns Decca.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• falling www.thesaurus.com
• rolling 
• running 
• sinuous 
• streaming