What does ebb mean?
Definitions for ebb
ɛbebb
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word ebb.
Princeton's WordNet
ebb, ebbing, wanenoun
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
ebb, refluxverb
the outward flow of the tide
ebb, ebb away, ebb down, ebb out, ebb offverb
flow back or recede
"the tides ebbed at noon"
ebbverb
hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb
ebbverb
fall away or decline
"The patient's strength ebbed away"
Wiktionary
ebbnoun
The receding movement of the tide.
ebbnoun
A gradual decline
ebbnoun
low state, state of depression
ebbnoun
The European bunting
ebbverb
to flow back or recede
The tides ebbed at noon.
ebbverb
to fall away or decline
The dying man's strength ebbed away.
ebbverb
to fish with stakes and nets that serve to prevent the fish from getting back into the sea with the ebb
ebbadjective
low, shallow
The water there is otherwise very low and ebb. (Holland)
Etymology: ebba, from abjōn (compare West Frisian ebbe, Dutch eb, German Ebbe, Old Norse efja ‘countercurrent’), from ab (compare Old English af). More at of, off.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
EBBnoun
Etymology: ebba, ewflod, Saxon; ebbe, Dutch.
The clear sun on his wide wat’ry glass
Gaz’d hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,
As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink
From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole
With soft foot tow’rds the deep. John Milton, Paradise Lost.Hither the seas at stated times resort,
And shove the loaden vessels into port;
Then with a gentle ebb retire again,
And render back their cargo to the main. Joseph Addison, on Italy.You have finished all the war, and brought all things to that low ebb which you speak of. Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.
This tide of man’s life, after it once turneth and declineth, ever runneth with a perpetual ebb and falling stream, but never floweth again. Walter Raleigh, History of the World.
Thus all the treasure of our flowing years,
Our ebb of life for ever takes away. Wentworth Dillon.The greatest age for poetry was that of Augustus Cæsar, yet painting was then at its lowest ebb, and perhaps sculpture was also declining. John Dryden, Dufresnoy, Preface.
Near my apartment let him pris’ner be,
That I his hourly ebbs of life may see. John Dryden, Aurengzebe.What is it he aspires to?
Is it not this? To shed the slow remains,
His last poor ebb of blood in your defence? Joseph Addison, Cato.To Ebbverb
Etymology: from the noun.
Though my tide of blood
Hath proudly flow’d in vanity ’till now,
Now it doth turn and ebb back to the sea. William Shakespeare, Hen. IV.From thence the tide of fortune left their shore,
And ebb’d much faster than it flow’d before. John Dryden, Æn.Well, I am standing water:
———— I’ll teach you how to flow.
———— Do so: to ebb
Hereditary sloth instructs me. William Shakespeare, Tempest.But oh he ebbs! the smiling waves decay!
For ever, lovely stream, for ever stay! Charles Montagu.
ChatGPT
ebb
Ebb refers to a gradual decline or reduction in something; it can also refer to the movement of the tide as it recedes back into the sea. It generally signifies a lessening, weakening, or low point in a cyclical process.
Webster Dictionary
Ebbnoun
the European bunting
Ebbnoun
the reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; -- opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out on the ebb
Ebbnoun
the state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay
Ebbverb
to flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; -- opposed to flow
Ebbverb
to return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede
Ebbverb
to cause to flow back
Ebbadjective
receding; going out; falling; shallow; low
Etymology: [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Ebb
eb, n. the going back or retiring of the tide: a decline or decay.—v.i. to flow back: to sink: to decay.—n. Ebb′-tide, the ebbing or retiring tide. [A.S. ebba; Ger. ebbe; cog. with even.]
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
ebb
The lineal descendant of the Anglo-Saxon ep-flod, meaning the falling reflux of the tide, or its return back from the highest of the flood, full sea, or high water. Also termed sæ-æbbung, sea-ebbing, by our progenitors.
Suggested Resources
ebb
Song lyrics by ebb -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by ebb on the Lyrics.com website.
EBB
What does EBB stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the EBB acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
EBB
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ebb is ranked #96368 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Ebb surname appeared 189 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Ebb.
57.1% or 108 total occurrences were Black.
38.1% or 72 total occurrences were White.
2.6% or 5 total occurrences were of two or more races.
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of ebb in Chaldean Numerology is: 9
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of ebb in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Examples of ebb in a Sentence
(C)(P) FEAR- IS THE DRIVING FORCE WHICH FUELS THE EBB AND FLOWS OF ALL THAT IS- AMERICAN SOCIETY. IT IS GENERATIONAL, AND WILL NOT GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE IT IS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE FABRIC AND MINDS OF THOSE WHO ALLOW IT TO GROW AND FESTER. CANCER MAY HAVE A CURE, BUT RACISM DOES NOT.
The ebb and flow of the popularity of streaming is mainly determined by the ups and downs of the pandemic, that has created not only a conundrum for studios, but also for consumers who are torn between their desire to see blockbuster films on the big screen at their local multiplex or from the comfort of the couch at home.
Men of immeasurable greatness are tossed about in the ebb and flow of words.
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
For this is Wisdom to love, to live To take what fate, or the Gods may give. To ask no question, to make no prayer, To kiss the lips and caress the hair, Speed passion's ebb as you greet its flow To have, - to hold - and - in time, - let go
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for ebb
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- انحسارArabic
- спадам, отливBulgarian
- odlivCzech
- traiWelsh
- ebbeDanish
- EbbeGerman
- malfluso, refluoEsperanto
- reflujo, marea, bajamar, marea bajaSpanish
- جزرPersian
- luode, laskuvesiFinnish
- reflux, décliner, refluerFrench
- ebbaWestern Frisian
- տեղատվությունArmenian
- riflussoItalian
- eb, wegebbenDutch
- fjæreNorwegian
- odpływPolish
- maré baixa, refluxo, baixa-mar, vazantePortuguese
- refluxRomanian
- ослабевать, отливRussian
- ebba, ebbSwedish
- சிறிதளவு மாறுபடும்Tamil
- cezirTurkish
Get even more translations for ebb »
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