| 1. | the large rise and fall of the tide at or soon after the new or the full moon. |
| 2. | any great flood or swelling rush: a spring tide of compliments. |
spring tide  (click for larger image in new window) n.
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spring tide
(click for larger image in new window) A tide in which the difference between high and low tide is the greatest. Spring tides occur when the Moon is either new or full, and the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are aligned. When this is the case, their collective gravitational pull on the Earth's water is strengthened. Compare neap tide. See more at tide. |
spring tide
tide of maximal range, near the time of new and full moon when the Sun and Moon are in syzygy-i.e., aligned with the Earth. Conjunction is the time during new moon when the Sun and Moon lie on the same side of the Earth. The other syzygy condition, opposition, occurs during full moon when the Sun and Moon are positioned on opposite sides of the Earth. In either case of syzygy, the tide-producing forces of the Sun and the Moon reinforce each other, and the tidal amplitudes on Earth are at their greatest. See tide.
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