I. ebb 1 /eb/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: ebba ]
1 . [singular] ( also ebb tide ) the flow of the sea away from the shore, when the ↑ tide goes out OPP flood tide
2 . be at a low ebb to be in a bad state or condition:
His confidence is at a low ebb.
3 . ebb and flow a situation or state in which something increases and decreases in a kind of pattern:
the ebb and flow of the conversation
the ebb and flow of passengers in the station
II. ebb 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
1 . if the ↑ tide ebbs, it flows away from the shore
2 . ( also ebb away ) to gradually decrease:
Linda’s enthusiasm began to ebb away.