tide

The regular rise and fall of the sea, mainly caused by the pull of the moon.

• The tide is coming in.
• We walked across the sand at low tide.
• High tides flooded the road last night.

Common phrases: high tide, low tide, incoming tide

A strong movement or change in events, feelings, or public opinion.

• The tide of public opinion is changing.
• Her speech helped turn the tide.
• They struggled against a rising tide of opposition.

How to use it: a tide of something (A tide of anger followed the announcement.); the tide turns against someone/something (The tide turned against the government after the scandal.)

Similar words: trend, current, wave

Common phrases: tide of opinion, turn the tide, rising tide

The movement of sea water towards or away from the shore.

• The tide carried the boat towards shore.
• We watched leaves float away on the tide.
• The incoming tide brought rubbish onto the beach.

Similar words: current

Common phrases: incoming tide, outgoing tide, on the tide

A period of time or a season, especially around a religious celebration.

• The village held a feast at Whitsun tide.
• They sang together during Christmas tide.
• The bells marked the arrival of Easter tide.

Similar words: season, period

Common phrases: Whitsun tide, Easter tide, Christmas tide

A repeated change in a planet's shape caused by the pull of another object in space.

• The moon also causes a tide in the land.
• Scientists measured small tides in Earth's crust.
• An atmospheric tide changes air pressure at regular intervals.

Common phrases: land tide, atmospheric tide, solid earth tide