tide

noun

1. The daily fluctuation in the level of the sea caused by the gravitational influence of the moon and the sun.

   “The Bristol Channel has some of the world's largest tides.”

2. The associated flow of water.

   “A lot of driftwood was brought in on the tide.”

3. Any similar gravitational effect on Earth or other body.

   “As well as sea tides, there are much smaller land tides.”

   “By far the largest tides on Europa are those caused by the gravitational attraction of Jupiter.”

4. A high-volume flow, literal or figurative; a current or flood.

   “The sewer burst, and a tide of sewage poured into nearby properties.”

   “A tide of people crossed over the border.”

   “We've encountered a tide of problems.”

   “Go I charge thee, inuite them all, let in the tide / Of Knaues once more: my Cook and Ile provide.”

5. The tendency or direction of causes, influences, or events; course; current.

   “The tide of public opinion has turned.”

   “There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune [...]”

6. (obsolete)Time, notably anniversary, period or season linked to an ecclesiastical feast.

   “[...] and rest their weary limbs a tide.”

   “Which, at th'appointed tyde, / Each one did make his Bryde”

   “at the tide / Of Christ his birth”

   “What is singular too, the spademen seem to work lazily; they will not work double-tides, even for offer of more wages, though their tide is but seven hours[.]”

7. (archaic, regional)A time.

   “The doctor's no good this tide.”

8. (archaic, in-compounds, regional)A point or period of time identified or described by a qualifier.

   “Eventide, noontide, morrowtide, nighttide, moontide, harvesttide, wintertide, summertide, springtide, autumntide etc.”

9. The period of twelve hours.

verb

1. (transitive)To cause to float with the tide; to drive or carry with the tide or stream.

   “They are tided down the stream.”

2. (broadly)To carry over or through a problem or difficulty.
3. (intransitive, rare)To pour a tide or flood.

   “The ocean tided most impressively.”

4. (intransitive)To work into or out of a river or harbor by drifting with the tide and anchoring when it becomes adverse.
5. (intransitive, obsolete)To happen, occur.

   “I wit not what may tide us here”