tidal
gb/tˈaɪdəl/ us/tˈaɪdəl/
B2
English
~ 8500
árapályos, árapály okozta, árapályi, elsöprő, feltartóztathatatlan
B2
1
árapályos
B2
Usage pattern:
tidal [noun]
The new seawall is designed to protect the village from tidal flooding.
Az új partvédő falat úgy tervezték, hogy megvédje a falut az árapály okozta elöntésektől.
This stretch of the river is tidal, so the water level changes throughout the day.
A folyó ezen a szakaszon árapályos, ezért a vízszint egész nap változik.
Strong tidal currents make the entrance to the harbor dangerous for small boats.
The wetlands provide a rich habitat for birds in the tidal zone.
Learner examples
A tidal river rises and falls with the sea.
Egy árapályos folyó vízszintje a tengerrel együtt emelkedik és süllyed.
The town built gates to stop tidal water from entering the streets.
A város zsilipkapukat épített, hogy megakadályozza, hogy a dagályvíz bejusson az utcákra.
We checked the map to see which parts of the coast were tidal.
Tidal currents can move swimmers away from the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "tidal" means simply "big" or "stormy" when talking about the sea. It specifically refers to the regular rise and fall of sea level. They may also say *"the sea is very tidal today"* when they mean *"the tide is very high"* or *"the tidal current is very strong"*. Another confusion is using "tidal wave" as a neutral word for any big wave; in science it is not the standard term for a tsunami, even though it is common in everyday language.
Meaning
Related to the sea’s tides
Collocations
tidal river
|tidal current
|tidal flow
|tidal range
|tidal marsh
|tidal basin
Synonyms
marine (Describes things related to the sea in general, not only to the rise and fall of the tide.)
Antonyms
non-tidal (Used for rivers or areas of water that are not affected by the sea’s tides.)
Themes
nature
|science
|geography
Definition
Connected to the regular rise and fall of the sea, called the tide.
Relating to, caused by, or affected by the regular rise and fall of sea level known as tides.
C1
TECHNICAL
2
árapályi
C1
Usage pattern:
tidal [noun]
The intense tidal forces near the black hole would tear a spacecraft apart.
A fekete lyuk közelében fellépő hatalmas árapályerők darabokra tépnének egy űrhajót.
Io’s volcanoes are powered by tidal heating from Jupiter’s gravity.
Az Io vulkánjait a Jupiter gravitációja által keltett árapályfűtés táplálja.
Over millions of years, tidal interactions can slow a planet’s rotation.
Tidal locking causes the Moon to always show the same face to the Earth.
Learner examples
Strong tidal forces act on moons that orbit close to their planets.
Erős árapályerők hatnak azokra a holdakra, amelyek közel keringenek a bolygójukhoz.
Tidal heating keeps some icy moons warm inside.
Az árapályfűtés melegen tartja egyes jeges holdak belsejét.
Because of tidal effects, the day on Earth is slowly getting longer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense only refers to the ocean, but in physics and astronomy "tidal" often describes gravity effects in space where there is no water at all.
Meaning
Caused by tide-forming gravity
Collocations
tidal forces
|tidal heating
|tidal locking
|tidal acceleration
|tidal disruption
Synonyms
gravitational (General word for anything related to gravity; "tidal" refers more specifically to gravity effects similar to those that cause tides.)
Antonyms
non-gravitational (Describes forces or effects not caused by gravity, such as electromagnetic or nuclear forces.)
Themes
science
|astronomy
|physics
Definition
Caused by the pull of gravity that also makes ocean tides, especially when talking about planets and moons.
Caused by the gravitational forces that create tides, especially in physics and astronomy.
C1
LITERARY
3
elsöprő
B2
Usage pattern:
tidal [noun]
The election result was driven by a tidal wave of public frustration.
A választási eredmény mögött a közvélemény elégedetlenségének elsöprő hulláma állt.
The new law unleashed a tidal surge of criticism from all sides.
Az új törvény minden oldalról kritikák áradatát váltotta ki.
She felt a tidal pull of grief as the memories returned.
Learner examples
The government faced a tidal wave of protest after the decision.
A döntés után a kormány elsöprő tiltakozáshullámmal szembesült.
The film created a tidal wave of interest in the old book.
A film hatalmas érdeklődési hullámot indított el a régi könyv iránt.
He felt a tidal wave of sadness when he heard the news.
Common mistake:
Learners may treat this as a general synonym for "big" and use it in sentences where there is no idea of movement or spreading, such as *"a tidal building"* or *"a tidal problem"*. It is usually used for strong feelings, reactions, or social changes that grow quickly, often in the fixed phrase "a tidal wave of [something]".
Meaning
Very large and overwhelming
Collocations
tidal wave of anger
|tidal wave of change
|tidal wave of protest
|tidal surge of support
Synonyms
overwhelming (Very strong or great in amount; "tidal" adds a more poetic image of something that moves and grows like the sea.)
Antonyms
small-scale (Describes something limited in size or effect, the opposite of a sweeping, tidal movement.)
Themes
metaphor
|emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very big and strong, and not easy to stop, like a very strong tide.
Very large, widespread, and difficult to control or stop, in a way that suggests a powerful tide.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tidal
IPA
GB/tˈaɪdəl/
US/tˈaɪdəl/
Syllables & stress
tid - al (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tid)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tidal
Word family
Core family
tide
noun B1
Advanced or less common
tidally
adverb
Expressions
tidal basin
1/tˈaɪdəl bˈeɪsən/
fixed phrase
Water area affected by tides
An area of water next to the sea where the water level goes up and down with the tide.
Examples
- The city plans to restore wetlands around the tidal basin.
- At low tide, mudflats appear along the edges of the tidal basin.
tidal current
1/tˈaɪdəl kˈɚənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Water flow caused by tides
A movement of water in the sea or a river that happens because of the tide.
Examples
- Boats must be careful in this channel because of the strong tidal current.
- Divers checked the schedule to avoid swimming during the fastest tidal currents.
tidal energy
1/tˈaɪdəl ˈɛnɚd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
Energy from ocean tides
Energy we get by using the rise and fall of the sea’s tides.
Examples
- Tidal energy is one form of renewable energy being tested in this region.
- Researchers are studying how to store tidal energy more efficiently.
tidal flat
1/tˈaɪdəl flˈæt/
fixed phrase
technical
Flat coast flooded by tides
A flat area of land near the sea that is under water at high tide and dry at low tide.
Examples
- Birds feed on the tidal flats when the water goes out.
- The park protects a wide tidal flat that is rich in sea life.
tidal power
1/tˈaɪdəl pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Electricity from ocean tides
Electricity that is made by using the movement of the sea’s tides.
Examples
- The government is investing in tidal power as a clean energy source.
- Engineers say tidal power could provide reliable electricity for coastal towns.
- Unlike wind or solar, tidal power is very predictable.
tidal range
1/tˈaɪdəl ɹˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
Difference between high and low tide
The difference in height between the sea at high tide and at low tide.
Examples
- This bay has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world.
- A large tidal range can create strong currents in narrow channels.
tidal wave
1/tˈaɪdəl wˈeɪv/
fixed phrase
Very large sea wave
A very big, strong wave in the sea that can cause a lot of damage.
Examples
- The coastal town was destroyed by a massive tidal wave.
- Sirens warned residents to move to higher ground as the tidal wave approached.
- After the earthquake, people feared a tidal wave might hit the nearby islands.
tidal wave of
1/tˈaɪdəl wˈeɪv əv/
idiom
Sudden, huge amount of something
A very big and fast increase of something, like feelings, support, or criticism.
Examples
- The company faced a tidal wave of complaints after the price increase.
- Her performance brought a tidal wave of support from fans around the world.
- The scandal set off a tidal wave of anger across social media.