ebb

ebb
I UK [eb] / US noun [singular]
1) ebb or ebb tide the process in which the sea level on a coast becomes lower
2) a period when something gradually becomes smaller or less

an apparent ebb in the fighting

be at/reach (a) low ebb — to be in a very small, weak, or unsuccessful state

My confidence was at its lowest ebb.


II UK [eb] / US verb [intransitive]
Word forms "ebb":
present tense I/you/we/they ebb he/she/it ebbs present participle ebbing past tense ebbed past participle ebbed mainly literary
1) if the tide ebbs, the sea's level on a coast gradually becomes lower. A more usual word is go out.
2) ebb or ˌebb aˈway to gradually become smaller or less
3) ebb or ˌebb aˈway if someone's life is ebbing or ebbing away, they are slowly dying

English dictionary. 2014.

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  • Ebb — Ebb, n. [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G. ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.] 1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; opposed to {flood}; as, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ebb — steht für: Eccentric Bottom Bracket, englisch für „exzentrisches Innenlager“ beim Fahrrad Einrichtungen der Beruflichen Bildung, gedruckter Vorläufer der Weiterbildungsdatenbank KURS Eisbären Berlin, Berliner Eishockeyclub Electric Banana Band,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ebb — Ebb, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Ebbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ebbing}.] [AS. ebbian; akin to D. & G. ebben, Dan. ebbe. See 2d {Ebb}.] 1. To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; opposed to {flow}. [1913 Webster] That Power who bids… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • EBB — steht für: Eccentric Bottom Bracket, englisch für „exzentrisches Innenlager“ beim Fahrrad Einrichtungen der Beruflichen Bildung, gedruckter Vorläufer der Weiterbildungsdatenbank KURS Eisbären Berlin, Berliner Eishockeyclub Electric Banana Band,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ebb — ► NOUN ▪ the movement of the tide out to sea. ► VERB 1) (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede. 2) (often ebb away) (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce. ● at a low ebb Cf. ↑at a low ebb …   English terms dictionary

  • Ebb — Ebb, a. Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low. [1913 Webster] The water there is otherwise very low and ebb. Holland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ebb — Ebb, v. t. To cause to flow back. [Obs.] Ford. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ebb — ([e^]b), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The European bunting. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ebb — (n.) O.E. ebba ebb, low tide, perhaps from P.Gmc. *abjon (Cf. O.Fris. ebba, O.S. ebbiunga, M.Du. ebbe, Du. eb, Ger. Ebbe), from *ab , from PIE root *apo off, away (see APO (Cf. apo) ). The verb is O.E …   Etymology dictionary

  • ebb — [n] regression; decline abatement, backflow, decay, decrease, degeneration, depreciation, deterioration, diminution, drop, dwindling, fading away, flagging, going out, lessening, low tide, low water, outward flow, petering out*, recession,… …   New thesaurus

  • ebb — [eb] n. [ME ebbe < OE ebba (common LowG, as in MLowG ebbe > Ger ebbe, OFris ebba) < Gmc * abjan, a going back < IE base * apo , from, away from > OFF1] 1. the flow of water back toward the sea, as the tide falls 2. a weakening or… …   English World dictionary

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