ebb

Meanings

Noun

• The receding movement of the tide.
• A gradual decline.
• A low state; a state of depression.
• A European bunting, the corn bunting (Emberiza calandra, syns. Emberiza miliaria (species), Milaria calandra (species)).

Verb

• to flow back or recede
• to fall away or decline
• to fish with stakes and nets that serve to prevent the fish from getting back into the sea with the ebb
• To cause to flow back.

Adjective

• low, shallow

Related

Opposite words

• flood
• flow

Origin

• From Middle English ebbe, from Old English ebba ("ebb, tide"), from Proto-Germanic *abjô, *abjǭ (compare West Frisian ebbe, Dutch eb, German Ebbe, Danish ebbe, Old Norse efja ("countercurrent")), from Proto-Germanic *ab ("off, away"), from Proto-Indo-European *apó. (compare Old English af). More at of, off.