/ taɪd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a regular rise and fall in the level of the sea, caused by the pull of the moon and sun; the flow of water that happens as the sea rises and falls :
the ebb and flow of the tide
The tide is in / out .
Is the tide coming in or going out?
The body was washed up on the beach by the tide.
—see also high tide , low tide , neap tide , spring tide
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] the direction in which the opinion of a large number of people seems to be moving :
It takes courage to speak out against the tide of opinion.
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] a large amount of sth unpleasant that is increasing and is difficult to control :
There is anxiety about the rising tide of crime.
4.
[ sing. ] tide of sth a feeling that you suddenly have that gets stronger and stronger :
A tide of rage surged through her.
5.
-tide [ sing. ] ( old use ) (in compounds) a time or season of the year :
Christmastide
•
IDIOMS
- go, swim, etc. with / against the tide
- the tide turned | turn the tide
■ verb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- tide sb over (sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English tīd time, period, era , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tijd and German Zeit , also to time . The sense relating to the sea dates from late Middle English .