tidemark

American  

[tahyd-mahrk] / ˈtaɪdˌmɑrk /

noun

1. the point that something or someone has reached, receded below, or risen above.

   He has reached the tidemark of his prosperity.

2. a mark left by the highest or lowest point of a tide.

3. a mark made to indicate the highest or lowest point of a tide.

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tidemark British  

/ ˈtaɪdˌmɑːk /

noun

1. a mark left by the highest or lowest point of a tide

2. a marker indicating the highest or lowest point reached by a tide

3. a mark showing a level reached by a liquid

   a tidemark on the bath

4. informal a dirty mark on the skin, indicating the extent to which someone has washed

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tidemark Scientific  

/ tīd′märk′ /

1. A line or mark on a shore indicating the highest or lowest level reached by the tide.

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Etymology

Origin of tidemark

First recorded in 1790–1800; tide ¹ + mark ¹

Example Sentences

A church has a brown tidemark halfway up its towers.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2016

Miraculously it was left standing when the tsunami swept through, even though the water left a tidemark above head height.

From BBC • May 14, 2011

It may be upon a tiny bay that you have emerged, with the meadows sloping straight to tidemark, and out beyond the wild fowl feeding by the kelp beds.

From Roughing it De Luxe by McCutcheon, John T.

That is shown very well by a simple little tidemark.

From Contemporary Socialism by Rae, John

Mr. Cahoon's countenance—that portion of it above the whisker tidemark, of course—registered horror at the thought.

From Fair Harbor by Lincoln, Joseph Crosby

Related Words

• apex
• apogee
• upper limit