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¹tide

noun \ˈtīd\

: the regular upward and downward movement of the level of the ocean that is caused by the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth

: the flow of the ocean's water as the tide rises or falls

: the way in which something is changing or developing

Full Definition of TIDE

a obsolete : a space of time : period

b : a fit or opportune time : opportunity

c : an ecclesiastical anniversary or festival; also : its season —usually used in combination <Eastertide>

a (1) : the alternate rising and falling of the surface of the ocean and of water bodies (as gulfs and bays) connected with the ocean that occurs usually twice a day and is the result of differing gravitational forces exerted at different parts of the earth by another body (as the moon or sun) (2) : a less marked rising and falling of an inland body of water (3) : a periodic movement in the earth's crust caused by the same forces that produce ocean tides (4) : a periodic distortion on one celestial body caused by the gravitational attraction of another (5) : one of the periodic movements of the atmosphere resembling those of the ocean and produced by gravitation or diurnal temperature changes

b : flood tide 1

a : something that fluctuates like the tides of the sea <the tide of public opinion>

b : a large and increasing quantity or volume <a tide of opportunists> <a swelling tide of criticism>

a : a flowing stream : current

b : the waters of the ocean

c : the overflow of a flooding stream

— tide·less \-ləs\ adjective

See tide defined for English-language learners

See tide defined for kids

Origin of TIDE

Middle English, time, from Old English tīd; akin to Old High German zīt time and perhaps to Greek daiesthai to divide

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TIDE

Synonyms: current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, trend, wind

Other Oceanography Terms

littoral, sound

Rhymes with TIDE

bide, bride, chide, eyed, fried, glide, guide, hide, pied, pride, ride, side, slide, snide, stride, thighed, tried, wide

²tide

verb

tid·edtid·ing

Definition of TIDE

intransitive verb

: to flow as or in a tide : surge

transitive verb

: to cause to float with or as if with the tide

First Known Use of TIDE

1593

³tide

intransitive verb

tid·edtid·ing

Definition of TIDE

archaic

: betide, befall

Origin of TIDE

Middle English, from Old English tīdan; akin to Middle Dutch tiden to go, come, Old English tīd time

First Known Use: before 12th century

TIDE Defined for Kids

¹tide

noun \ˈtīd\

Definition of TIDE for Kids

: the rising and falling of the surface of the ocean caused twice daily by the attraction of the sun and the moon

: something that rises and falls or rushes in a mass <The tide of public opinion often changes.>

Word History of TIDE

The English word tide at first meant “time” or “a space of time.” Later the word was used for the space of time between the rising and falling of the sea's surface. Then tide came to mean “the rising and falling of the sea.” This is the most common meaning of the word today.

²tide

verb

tid·edtid·ing

Definition of TIDE for Kids

: to help to overcome or put up with a difficulty <A snack will tide me over until dinner.>

Medical Dictionary

tide

noun \ˈtīd\

Medical Definition of TIDE

: a temporary increase or decrease in a specified substance or quality in the body or one of its systems <a postprandial alkaline tide, the typical rise in urinary pH associated with gastric acid secretion—E. J. Jacobson & Gerhard Fuchs>