spring tide

IPA/ˌsprɪŋ ˈtaɪd/
IPA/ˌsprɪŋ ˈtaɪd/

spring tide — noun

1. A time each month when the ocean rises higher than normal and falls lower than n

1.nounB1
Definition

A time each month when the ocean rises higher than normal and falls lower than normal, caused by the sun and moon lining up with the earth so their gravity pulls in the same direction.

Example

Fishers along the coast know that a spring tide brings stronger currents than usual.

collocation: spring tide + brings stronger currents

During the spring tide at Tuan's beach, water reached the bottom of the sea wall.

preposition: during a spring tide + location

Common collocations
  • spring tide + occurs / happens
  • during a spring tide
  • ahead of the spring tide
  • spring tide + brings / causes / produces
Antonyms
  • neap tide

    When the difference between high and low water is smallest, occurring when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other.

Grammar Patterns

the spring tide

a spring tide

during a spring tide

Usage Note

Spring tide is NOT related to the season spring — it happens twice each lunar month (at new moon and full moon). The opposite is a neap tide, when the difference between high and low water is smallest.

Common Mistakes

Spring tide happens only in March.
Spring tide happens twice every month, at new moon and full moon.
The word 'spring' here means 'to leap or rise strongly', not the season.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Spring tide refers to the twice-monthly cycle when the tidal range (the gap between high and low water) is at its maximum. This is distinct from high tide (the daily peak water level) or low tide (the daily low point). A neap tide is the opposite — it occurs between spring tides when the tidal range is smallest. Unlike a tidal surge, which is an unusual rise caused by storms, a spring tide is a predictable astronomical event. For example: 'The spring tide tomorrow will reach 5 metres, while next week's neap tide will only reach 3 metres.'

high tide ↗low tide ↗neap tidetidal surge

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • spring tide occurs
  • spring tide brings
  • spring tide causes

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'spring' in 'spring tide' does NOT refer to the season of spring. It comes from the Old English 'springan' meaning 'to leap, rise, or burst forth' — describing how the water seems to spring up higher than usual. 'Tide' comes from Old English 'tīd', meaning 'time' or 'season'. So a spring tide is literally a 'leaping time' of the sea. The term has been used since the 16th century.