Neap tide
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The tide which occurs just after the first and third quarters of the moon, when there is least difference between high tide and low tide.
"Spring tides occur when the Sun and Moon line up, since the gravities of the two bodies add together to create larger tidal forces. Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to one another as seen from Earth. In this case, the gravitational forces counteract each other, creating weaker tidal forces."
- 2 a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Spring tides occur when the Sun and Moon line up, since the gravities of the two bodies add together to create larger tidal forces. Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to one another as seen from Earth. In this case, the gravitational forces counteract each other, creating weaker tidal forces."
Etymology
From neap + tide. Compare Danish niptid (“neap tide”), German Nipptide (“neap tide”), Old English nēpflōd (“neap tide”).