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rip current

rip current

  1. A strong, narrow surface current that flows rapidly away from the shore. Rip currents form when excess water that has accumulated along a shore due to wind and waves rushes back suddenly to deeper waters.
  2. Also called rip tide

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rip current1

First recorded in 1935–40

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tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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