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View synonyms for tide

tide

1

[ tahyd ]

noun

  1. 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.
  2. the inflow, outflow, or current of water at any given place resulting from the waves of tides.
  3. a stream or current.
  4. anything that alternately rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc.:

    the tide of the seasons.

  5. current, tendency, or drift, as of events or ideas:

    the tide of international events.

  6. any extreme or critical period or condition:

    The tide of her illness is at its height.

  7. a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc. (now used chiefly in combination):

    wintertide; eventide.

  8. Ecclesiastical. a period of time that includes and follows an anniversary, festival, etc.
  9. Archaic. a suitable time or occasion.
  10. Obsolete. an extent of time.


verb (used without object)

, tid·ed, tid·ing.
  1. to flow as the tide; flow to and fro.
  2. to float or drift with the tide.

verb (used with object)

, tid·ed, tid·ing.
  1. to carry, as the tide does.

verb phrase

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

tide

2

[ tahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, Archaic.
, tid·ed, tid·ing.
  1. to happen or befall.

tide

1

/ taɪd /

noun

  1. 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
  2. the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in level

    the tide is coming in

  3. See flood, ebb
    See ebb flood
  4. a widespread tendency or movement

    the tide of resentment against the government

  5. a critical point in time; turning point

    the tide of his fortunes

  6. dialect.
    a fair or holiday
  7. in combination a season or time

    Christmastide

  8. rare.
    any body of mobile water, such as a stream
  9. archaic.
    a favourable opportunity


verb

  1. to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide
  2. intr to ebb and flow like the tide

tide

2

/ taɪd /

verb

  1. archaic.
    intr to happen

tide

/ tīd /

  1. 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.
  2. See also ebb tide


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Derived Forms

  • ˈtideˌlike, adjective
  • ˈtideless, adjective

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Other Words From

  • tideful adjective
  • tideless adjective
  • tideless·ness noun
  • tidelike adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tide1

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

Origin of tide2

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tide1

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

Origin of tide2

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

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing tide

In addition to the idiom beginning with tide , also see stem the tide ; swim against the current (tide) ; swim with the tide ; time and tide ; turn of the tide .

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Example Sentences

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.

Objectively, 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.

They climbed another dune, and came upon the great gray sea at low tide.

It seemed; it truly seemed as if the tide of blue, grey, scarlet specks was submerging the enemy's strongholds.

The 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.

We were mere atoms in a vast wave of horn and bone and flesh that bore us onward as the tide floats driftwood.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from 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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