tide
1the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean and its inlets, produced by the attraction of the moon and sun, and occurring about every 12 hours.
the inflow, outflow, or current of water at any given place resulting from the waves of tides.
a stream or current.
anything that alternately rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc.: the tide of the seasons.
current, tendency, or drift, as of events or ideas: the tide of international events.
any extreme or critical period or condition: The tide of her illness is at its height.
a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc. (now used chiefly in combination): wintertide; eventide.
Ecclesiastical. a period of time that includes and follows an anniversary, festival, etc.
Archaic. a suitable time or occasion.
Obsolete. an extent of time.
to flow as the tide; flow to and fro.
to float or drift with the tide.
to carry, as the tide does.
tide over,
to assist in getting over a period of difficulty or distress.
to surmount (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.); survive.
Idioms about tide
turn the tide, to reverse the course of events, especially from one extreme to another: The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution.
Origin of tide
1Other words from tide
- tideful, adjective
- tideless, adjective
- tide·less·ness, noun
- tidelike, adjective
Words Nearby tide
Other definitions for tide (2 of 2)
to happen or befall.
Origin of tide
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tide in a sentence
Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor both have boat ramps at the sound’s mouth, but time your trip carefully—an outgoing tide will test your strength.
The Ultimate Acadia National Park Travel Guide | Virginia M. Wright | February 8, 2021 | Outside OnlineThis is an effort to stem the tide of covid-related illness and death that has swept through nursing homes and assisted-living facilities — 37 percent of all covid-19 deaths as of mid-January.
Are the coronavirus vaccines safe for someone with cancer, dementia or MS? | Judith Graham | January 31, 2021 | Washington PostWith the tide rising toward stakeholder capitalism, it’s time to leverage tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to make intersectional gender equity a reality, to make stakeholder capitalism a reality, and to catapult our economic recovery.
Better use of technology can help us close racial and gender gaps at work | matthewheimer | January 6, 2021 | Fortune“They’re moving slowly in terms of their merger and haven’t had a clear story, but the tides seem to be changing,” said the second agency executive.
Change the channel: How ViacomCBS is managing the transition from linear TV to streaming | Tim Peterson | January 5, 2021 | DigidayIt all adds up to an anti-globalization tide the world over.
But the tide was turning on this issue, an email from another constituent made clear.
Instead of decorating every face on the street, Google Glass hit a contrarian rip tide.
You Were Wrong About Miley & Bitcoin: 2014’s Failed Predictions | Nina Strochlic | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTObjectively, they are not just riding with the tide, but helping to guide its very direction.
But before a new tide of tourists can flow from Miami to Havana, Cuba will need to build more runways.
But then, once this swelling tide has receded, what happens?
His ear, his brain, his muscles take on a new joyous activity, and the tide of life rises higher.
Children's Ways | James SullyThey climbed another dune, and came upon the great gray sea at low tide.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard KiplingIt seemed; it truly seemed as if the tide of blue, grey, scarlet specks was submerging the enemy's strongholds.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonThe blood rushed in a hot tide into the girl's pale wet face, and yet she shivered as if an arrow had pierced her heart.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieWe were mere atoms in a vast wave of horn and bone and flesh that bore us onward as the tide floats driftwood.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for tide (1 of 2)
/ (taɪd) /
the cyclic rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. There are usually two high tides and two low tides in each lunar day: See also tide-generating force, neap tide, spring tide
the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in level: the tide is coming in
a widespread tendency or movement: the tide of resentment against the government
a critical point in time; turning point: the tide of his fortunes
Northern English dialect a fair or holiday
(in combination) a season or time: Christmastide
rare any body of mobile water, such as a stream
archaic a favourable opportunity
to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide
(intr) to ebb and flow like the tide
Origin of tide
1Derived forms of tide
- tideless, adjective
- tidelike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for tide (2 of 2)
/ (taɪd) /
(intr) archaic to happen
Origin of tide
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for tide
[ tīd ]
The regular rise and fall in the surface level of the Earth's oceans, seas, and bays caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon and to a lesser extent of the Sun. The maximum high tides (or spring tides) occur when the Moon and Sun are directly aligned with Earth, so that their gravitational pull on Earth's waters is along the same line and is reinforced. The lowest high tides (or neap tides) occur when the Moon and Sun are at right angles to each other, so that their gravitational pull on Earth's waters originates from two different directions and is mitigated. Tides vary greatly by region and are influenced by sea-floor topography, storms, and water currents. See also ebb tide flood tide neap tide spring tide.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with tide
In addition to the idiom beginning with tide
- tide over
also see:
- stem the tide
- swim against the current (tide)
- swim with the tide
- time and tide
- turn of the tide
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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