tide

[ tahyd ]

/ taɪd /

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See synonyms for: tide / tiding on Thesaurus.com

noun

the 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.

flood tide.

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.

verb (used without object), tid·ed, tid·ing.

to flow as the tide; flow to and fro.

to float or drift with the tide.

verb (used with object), tid·ed, tid·ing.

to carry, as the tide does.

Verb Phrases

tide over,

to assist in getting over a period of difficulty or distress.
to surmount (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.); survive.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English tīd “time, hour”; cognate with Dutch tijd, German Zeit, Old Norse tīth; akin to time

OTHER WORDS FROM tide

tideful, adjectivetideless, adjectivetide·less·ness, nountidelike, adjective

Other definitions for tide (2 of 2)

tide²

[ tahyd ]

/ taɪd /

verb (used without object), tid·ed, tid·ing.Archaic.

to happen or befall.

Origin of tide

First recorded before 1000; Middle English tiden, Old English tīdan; see betide

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tide in a sentence

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, flooding during high tides has doubled in the United States in the past 20 years.
‘It’s a sea change’: How climate went from the back burner to a central issue in this year’s debates|Brady Dennis|October 22, 2020|Washington Post
Edible seaweedEating seaweed has been popular for decades in Asia, and recently, along the West Coast of the US, people have been foraging for fresh marine seaweed at low tide.
14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean|By Bob McNally/Field & Stream|October 19, 2020|Popular-Science
Up to now, she’s managed to navigate the family businesses through the changing tides of the pandemic with a mixture of takeout, dine-in service, and outdoor dining.
A Looming Menace for Restaurants: Winter Is Coming|Brenna Houck|October 15, 2020|Eater
After waiting until high tide, when the whale carcass could float, he and his team tied it to a ship.
Whales get a second life as deep-sea buffets|Stephen Ornes|October 15, 2020|Science News For Students

Together with planetary scientists Antony Trinh and Isamu Matsuyama, both of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Hay calculated the size of the tides that Jupiter’s moons would raise on each other’s oceans.
Jupiter’s moons could keep each other warm by raising tidal waves|Lisa Grossman|August 6, 2020|Science News
But so far as England was concerned, the crisis was tided over by the usual method of compromise.
The Evolution of Sinn Fein|Robert Mitchell Henry
Clemens and his wife loaned Gillette the three thousand dollars which tided him through his period of dramatic education.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
You have been leal and true to me indeed, and many a black hour have you tided me over since this war' began.
Richard Carvel, Complete|Winston Churchill
Her embarrassments have since been tided over and the family fortune saved, at least from total shipwreck.
The Incendiary|W. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
But it was believed that the temporary embarrassment might be tided over.
Crying for the Light, Vol. 3 [of 3]|J. Ewing Ritchie

British Dictionary definitions for tide (1 of 2)

tide¹

/ (taɪd) /

noun

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 daySee also tide-generating force, neap tide, spring tide

the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in levelthe tide is coming in

See ebb (def. 3), flood (def. 3)

a widespread tendency or movementthe tide of resentment against the government

a critical point in time; turning pointthe tide of his fortunes

Northern English dialect a fair or holiday

(in combination) a season or timeChristmastide

rare any body of mobile water, such as a stream

archaic a favourable opportunity

verb

to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide

(intr) to ebb and flow like the tide

Derived forms of tide

tideless, adjectivetidelike, adjective

Word Origin for tide

Old English tīd time; related to Old High German zīt, Old Norse tīthr time

British Dictionary definitions for tide (2 of 2)

tide²

/ (taɪd) /

verb

(intr) archaic to happen

Word Origin for tide

Old English tīdan; related to Old Frisian tīdia to proceed to, Middle Low German tīden to hurry, Old Norse tītha to desire

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

Scientific definitions for tide

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with tide

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

tide

Idioms about tide

Origin of tide

OTHER WORDS FROM tide

Other definitions for tide (2 of 2)

Origin of tide

Words related to tide

How to use tide in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tide (1 of 2)

Derived forms of tide

Word Origin for tide

British Dictionary definitions for tide (2 of 2)

Word Origin for tide

Scientific definitions for tide

Other Idioms and Phrases with tide