[tahyd] 
,noun, verb, tid⋅ed, tid⋅ing.| 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. | flood tide. |
| 4. | a stream or current. |
| 5. | anything that alternately rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc.: the tide of the seasons. |
| 6. | current, tendency, or drift, as of events or ideas: the tide of international events. |
| 7. | any extreme or critical period or condition: The tide of her illness is at its height. |
| 8. | a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc. (now used chiefly in combination): wintertide; eventide. |
| 9. | Ecclesiastical. a period of time that includes and follows an anniversary, festival, etc. |
| 10. | Archaic. a suitable time or occasion. |
| 11. | Obsolete. an extent of time. |
| 12. | to flow as the tide; flow to and fro. |
| 13. | to float or drift with the tide. |
| 14. | to carry, as the tide does. |
| 15. | tide over,
|
| 16. | turn the tide, to reverse the course of events, esp. from one extreme to another: The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution. |
tide (tīd)
n.
An alternate increase and decrease, as of levels of a substance in the blood or digestive tract.
| tide (tīd) Pronunciation Key
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. See also ebb tide, flood tide, neap tide, spring tide. |
