tide
n. · v.-
1 ocean movement (n.) B1 Intermediatethe regular rise and fall of the sea level caused by the moon and sun.
the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean and its inlets, produced by the attraction of the moon and sun.
ExampleThe children built a sandcastle, but the tide came in and washed it away.
ExampleThe fishing boats remained anchored in the harbour, waiting for the tide to turn before they could safely navigate the shallow channel.
UsageUsually used with 'the'.
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2 a trend or direction (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe general direction in which something is moving or changing, like public opinion.
the tendency or direction of causes, influences, or events; a metaphorical current of opinion or history.
ExampleThe tide of public opinion is finally starting to change regarding climate laws.
ExamplePolitical analysts observed that the tide of popular support was shifting toward the opposition as the economic crisis deepened.
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3 to help through a difficult time (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto help someone survive a difficult period, usually by providing money or food.
to support or sustain someone through a period of difficulty or scarcity; almost exclusively used in the phrasal verb 'tide over'.
ExampleCould you lend me twenty dollars to tide me over until payday?
ExampleThe emergency grant was intended to tide the small business over until the insurance claim could be fully processed.
UsageUsually appears as 'tide someone over'.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *déh₂itis Proto-Germanic *tīdiz Proto-West Germanic *tīdi Old English tīd Middle English tyde English tide Inherited from Middle English tyde, from Old English tīd, from Proto-West Germanic tīdi, from Proto-Germanic tīdiz, from Proto-Indo-European déh₂itis, from deh₂y- + *-tis. Related to time.
From Middle English tiden, tide, from Old English tīdan (“to happen”).