tide

¹

[ tahyd ]

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

, tid·ed, tid·ing.

1. to flow as the tide; flow to and fro.
2. to float or drift with the tide.

verb (used with object)

, tid·ed, tid·ing.

1. to carry, as the tide does.

verb phrase

1. 1. to assist in getting over a period of difficulty or distress.
   2. to surmount (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.); survive.

tide

²

[ tahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, Archaic.

, tid·ed, tid·ing.

1. to happen or befall.

tide

¹

/ taɪd /

verb

1. archaic.
   intr to happen

tide

²

/ taɪd /

noun

1. the cyclic rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. There are usually two high tides and two low tides in each lunar day See also tide-generating force neap tide spring tide
2. the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in level

   the tide is coming in

3. See ebb flood
4. a widespread tendency or movement

   the tide of resentment against the government

5. a critical point in time; turning point

   the tide of his fortunes

6. dialect.
   a fair or holiday
7. in combination a season or time

   Christmastide

8. rare.
   any body of mobile water, such as a stream
9. archaic.
   a favourable opportunity

verb

1. to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide
2. intr to ebb and flow like the tide

tide

/ tīd /

1. 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.
2. See also ebb tide

Derived Forms

• ˈtideˌlike, adjective
• ˈtideless, adjective

Other Words From

• tideful adjective
• tideless adjective
• tideless·ness noun
• tidelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tide¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English tīd “time, hour”; cognate with Dutch tijd, German Zeit, Old Norse tīth; akin to time

Origin of tide²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English tiden, Old English tīdan; betide

Word History and Origins

Origin of tide¹

Old English tīdan; related to Old Frisian tīdia to proceed to, Middle Low German tīden to hurry, Old Norse tītha to desire

Origin of tide²

Old English tīd time; related to Old High German zīt, Old Norse tīthr time

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. turn the tide, to reverse the course of events, especially from one extreme to another:

   The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution.

More idioms and phrases containing tide

In addition to the idiom beginning with tide , also see stem the tide ; swim against the current (tide) ; swim with the tide ; time and tide ; turn of the tide .

Example Sentences

At least it put a rosier sheen on the rising tide of bigotry and violence unleashed by MAGA.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a weak El Niño earlier this year, and this wash-up coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week.

From Los Angeles Times

As the Russian army slowly advances in eastern Ukraine, it’s driving a tide of human suffering before it.

From BBC

Measures in the Budget, in particular a rise in the tax that firms pay on their staff's wages, have been met with a tide of criticism from business, who argue it will hold back growth.

From BBC

In addition, the election revealed the extent that Trump’s escalation of the so-called “culture wars,” positioned him with his followers as a self-styled defender of reactionary values against the tide of progressive reform.

From Salon

Related Words

• flood
• spate
• stream
• tendency
• torrent
• trend
• undercurrent
• wave