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Tidal wave
//ˈtaɪdəlweɪv// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A large and sudden rise and fall in the tide.
- 2 a wave resulting from the periodic flow of the tides that is caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun wordnet
- 3 A large, sudden, and disastrous wave of water caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean; a tsunami. (See Usage notes below.) proscribed
"The last tidal wave here killed twenty and left thousands homeless."
- 4 an unusual (and often destructive) rise of water along the seashore caused by a storm or a combination of wind and high tide wordnet
- 5 A large, sudden inundation of water from the storm surge, or waves of that surge; a sudden surge of river water. proscribed
"During the day conditions worsened quickly—for example, a 2-6-0 on the Uckfield line suddenly encountered flood water high enough to enter its ashpan and extinguish its fire—until lock gates up-river at Barcombe gave way and a tidal wave rolled down the valley meeting head-on a spring tide rolling up from the coast."
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- 6 an overwhelming manifestation of some emotion or phenomenon wordnet
- 7 A sudden and powerful surge. figuratively
"As the doors opened, a tidal wave of people flooded into the room."
- 8 A crest of ocean water; a wave. archaic
- 9 A crest of ocean water resulting from tidal forces.
See also for "tidal wave"
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Unscramble this word: tidalwave