Trends oftidal wave
View usage for:
tidal wave
Word forms: plural tidal waves
1. countable noun
A tidal wave is a very large wave, often caused by an earthquake, that flows onto the land and destroys things.
...a massive tidal wave swept the ship up and away.
2. countable noun [usually singular]
If you describe a very large number of emotions, things, or people as a tidal wave, you mean that they all occur at the same time.
The trade union movement was swept along by a tidal wave of patriotism. [+ of]
We are now seeing a tidal wave of job losses in all sections of the economy.
tidal wave in British English
noun
1. a name (not accepted in technical usage) for tsunami
2.
an unusually large incoming wave, often caused by high winds and spring tides
3.
a forceful and widespread movement in public opinion, action, etc
tidal wave in American English
1. Nontechnical
a tsunami or a similar wave caused by strong winds and not actually related to the tides
2. US
any great or widespread movement, expression of prevalent feeling, etc.
Image oftidal wave
© Willyam Bradberry, shutterstock
Examples of 'tidal wave' in a sentencetidal wave
Word lists withtidal wave
Weather phenomenaIn other languagestidal wave
British English: tidal wave NOUN
A tidal wave is a very large wave, often caused by an earthquake, that flows onto the land and destroys things.
...a massive tidal wave swept the ship up and away.
- American English: tidal wave
- Brazilian Portuguese: onda gigantesca
- Chinese: > 潮波常指地震引起的
- European Spanish: maremoto
- French: tsunami
- German: Flutwelle
- Italian: onda anomala
- Japanese: 津波
- Korean: 해일
- European Portuguese: onda gigantesca
- Latin American Spanish: maremoto