tide — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The daily fluctuation in the level of the sea caused by the gravitational influence of the moon and the sun.

   Examples

   The Bristol Channel has some of the world's largest tides.

2. The associated flow of water.

   Examples

   A lot of driftwood was brought in on the tide.

   We can cross to the island when the tide is out, but it won't move out until around five o'clock.

3. Any similar gravitational effect on Earth or other body.

   Examples

   As well as sea tides, there are much smaller land tides.

   By far the largest tides on Europa are those caused by the gravitational attraction of Jupiter.

4. A high-volume flow, literal or figurative; a current or flood.

   Synonyms

   infloodinfloodinginflowinflowinginflux

   Examples

   The sewer burst, and a tide of sewage poured into nearby properties.

   A tide of people crossed over the border.

   More examples (2)

   We've encountered a tide of problems.

   Go I charge thee, inuite them all, let in the tide / Of Knaues once more: my Cook and Ile provide.

5. The tendency or direction of causes, influences, or events; course; current.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   The tide of public opinion has turned.

   There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune […]

   More examples (3)

   This is the crap our children are learning / But oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning

   Can't you see that the tide is turning

   Ahead of a summit on Thursday evening in Brussels, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the tide was turning.

6. Time, notably anniversary, period or season linked to an ecclesiastical feast.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   [...] and rest their weary limbs a tide.

   Which, at th'appointed tyde, / Each one did make his Bryde

   More examples (2)

   at the tide / Of Christ his birth

   What is singular too, the spademen seem to work lazily; they will not work double-tides, even for offer of more wages, though their tide is but seven hours[.]

7. A time.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Regional

   Examples

   The doctor's no good this tide.

8. A point or period of time identified or described by a qualifier.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • In compounds
   • Regional

   Examples

   Eventide, noontide, morrowtide, nighttide, moontide, harvesttide, wintertide, summertide, springtide, autumntide etc.

9. The period of twelve hours.

Verb

1. To cause to float with the tide; to drive or carry with the tide or stream.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   They are tided down the stream.

2. To carry over or through a problem or difficulty.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • in the phrase tide over

3. To pour a tide or flood.

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Rare

   Examples

   The ocean tided most impressively.

4. To work into or out of a river or harbor by drifting with the tide and anchoring when it becomes adverse.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

Verb

1. To happen, occur.

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Obsolete

   Synonyms

   betidebefall

   Examples

   I wit not what may tide us here

Noun

1. the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

   Broader terms

   periodic eventrecurrent event

2. something that may increase or decrease (like the tides of the sea)

   Broader terms

   variationfluctuation

   Examples

   a rising tide of popular interest

3. there are usually two high and two low tides each day

   Synonyms

   lunar time period

   Broader terms

   time periodperiod of timeperiod

Verb

1. rise or move forward

   Synonyms

   surge

   Antonyms

   ebb

   Broader terms

   runflowfeedcourse

   Examples

   surging waves

2. cause to float with the tide

   Broader terms

   float

3. be carried with the tide

   Broader terms

   floatdriftbe adriftblow