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ebb - 9 dictionary results

ebb

  [eb]
Use ebb in a Sentence
–noun
1. the flowing back of the tide as the water returns to the sea (opposed to flood, flow ).
2. a flowing backward or away; decline or decay: the ebb of a once great nation.
3. a point of decline: His fortunes were at a low ebb.
–verb (used without object)
4. to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (opposed to flow ).
5. to decline or decay; fade away: His life is gradually ebbing.
Origin:
bef. 1000; (n.) ME eb(be), OE ebba; c. OFris ebba, D eb(be), G Ebbe ebb, ON efja place where water backs up; (v.) ME ebben, OE ebbian, deriv. of the n.; akin to off

Synonyms:
4. subside, abate, recede, retire. 5. dwindle, diminish, decrease.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ebb   (ěb)   
n.  
  1. Ebb tide.
  2. A period of decline or diminution: "Insistence upon rules of conduct marks the ebb of religious fervor" (Alfred North Whitehead).
intr.v.   ebbed, ebb·ing, ebbs
  1. To fall back from the flood stage.
  2. To fall away or back; decline or recede. See Synonyms at recede1.

[Middle English ebbe, from Old English ebba; see apo- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ebb

Ebb\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The European bunting.

Ebb

Ebb\, n. [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.]

1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out on the ebb.

Thou shoreless flood which in thy ebb and flow Claspest the limits of morality! --Shelley.

2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay. "Our ebb of life." --Roscommon.

Painting was then at its lowest ebb. --Dryden.

Ebb and flow, the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively.

This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this ebb and flow of the industrial. --A. T. Hadley.

Ebb

Ebb\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ebbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ebbing.] [AS. ebbian; akin to D. & G. ebben, Dan. ebbe. See 2d Ebb.]

1. To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; -- opposed to flow.

That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope.

2. To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede.

The hours of life ebb fast. --Blackmore.

Syn: To recede; retire; withdraw; decay; decrease; wane; sink; lower.

Ebb

Ebb\, v. t. To cause to flow back. [Obs.] --Ford.

Ebb

Ebb\, a. Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.

The water there is otherwise very low and ebb. --Holland.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : ebb
Spanish: bajar,
German: fallen,
Japanese: 引く
More Translations »

ebb 
O.E. ebba, perhaps from P.Gmc. *abjon, from *ab-, from PIE base *apo- "off, away" (see apo-). Figurative sense of "decline, decay" is c.1400.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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ebb

In addition to the idioms beginning with ebb, also see at a low ebb.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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