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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ebb    Audio Help   [eb] Pronunciation Key
–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]

4. subside, abate, recede, retire. 5. dwindle, diminish, decrease.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
ebb

To learn more about ebb visit Britannica.com

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ebb    Audio Help   (ěb)  Pronunciation Key 
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.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
ebb

noun
1. a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) 
2. the outward flow of the tide 

verb
1. flow back or recede; "the tides ebbed at noon" [ant: carapace
2. hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb 
3. fall away or decline; "The patient's strength ebbed away" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

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 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ebb1 [eb]
(of the tide) to go out from the land
Example: The tide began to ebb.
Arabic: يَنْحَسِرُ المَد
Chinese (Simplified): 退潮
Chinese (Traditional): 退潮
Czech: klesat
Danish: trække sig tilbage
Dutch: ebben
Estonian: mõõnama
Finnish: laskea
French: descendre
German: fallen
Greek: υποχωρώ (για τα νερά της παλίρροιας)
Icelandic: fjara út
Indonesian: surut
Italian: calare, abbassarsi
Japanese: 引く
Latvian: atplūst
Lithuanian: (at)slūgti
Norwegian: ebbe
Polish: odpływać, ustępować
Portuguese (Brazil): refluir
Portuguese (Portugal): vazar
Romanian: a se retrage
Russian: убывать
Slovak: klesať
Slovenian: upadati (oseka)
Spanish: bajar
Swedish: ebba
Turkish: alçalmak, çekilmek
ebb2 [eb]
to become less
Example: His strength was ebbing fast.
Arabic: يَقِل، يَتَضاءَل، يَضْعُف
Chinese (Simplified): 衰退
Chinese (Traditional): 衰退
Czech: ubývat
Danish: ebbe ud; tage af
Dutch: wegebben
Estonian: kahanema
Finnish: huveta
French: décliner
German: versiegen
Greek: λιγοστεύω, φθίνω
Icelandic: fjara út, minnka
Indonesian: berkurang
Italian: venire meno*, declinare
Japanese: 弱くなる
Latvian: mazināties; izsīkt
Lithuanian: sekti, mažėti, silpnėti
Norwegian: ebbe ut, falle, synke, svinne
Polish: słabnąć
Portuguese (Brazil): declinar
Portuguese (Portugal): declinar
Romanian: a scădea
Russian: ослабевать
Slovak: ubúdať, odbúdať
Slovenian: upadati
Spanish: disminuir, decaer
Swedish: ebba ut, tryta, avta
Turkish: azalmak
See also: at a low ebb, ebb tide, on the ebb

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ebb

Ebb\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The European bunting.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ebb

Ebb\, v. t. To cause to flow back. [Obs.] --Ford.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

EBB

EBB: in Acronym Finder

Acronym Finder, © 1988-2007 Mountain Data Systems
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