undertow

[ uhn-der-toh ]

/ ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR undertow ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the seaward, subsurface flow or draft of water from waves breaking on a beach.

any strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current.

Origin of undertow

First recorded in 1810–20; under- + tow¹

synonym study for undertow

2. Undertow, underset, riptide are terms for a usually strong undercurrent in the ocean, contrary to the direction of surface water. Undertow and another nautical term, underset (a set or current contrary to the general set of the water, or contrary to the wind), came into notice early in the 19th century. The former is still in general use along the Atlantic coast; the latter now less well known. Rip, in use in the U.S. by the late 18th century, properly means a violently disturbed place in a body of water, usually by the meeting of opposing tides. Of recent years, in the form riptide, it has also been used, especially on the Pacific coast, to mean much the same as undertow, dangerous to bathers where heavy surf prevails.

Words nearby undertow

underthrust, undertime, undertint, undertone, undertook, undertow, undertrick, undertrump, underused, underutilize, undervalue

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for undertow

This undertow, of violence and duplicitousness and frustration, paradoxically propels the book forward.
Teju Cole’s Keen Eye Spares No One—Himself Included|Benjamin Lytal|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But life itself is messy and unceremonious; it cannot stop too long for death without losing itself to the undertow.
Memorial Days After Mourning Has Passed|Alex Horton|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"All along the undertow is strengthening its hold," Cuomo sang.
Remembering Weezer’s ‘The Blue Album,’ A Garage Rock Classic, on Its 20th Anniversary|Andrew Romano|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Seven days after Flight 370 disappeared, the families of those on board are stuck in an undertow of uncertainty.
The Flight 370 Paradox: How Do You Mourn a Missing Person?|Abby Haglage|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Given the frustration in the international community, Israel must reverse an undertow of isolation.
Full Video and Transcript of Obama's Speech in Israel|Justin Green|March 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the course of a month the secret propaganda was moving with the invisible, sinister, irresistible suction of an undertow.
The White Morning|Gertrude Atherton
For our theory—which may be entirely wrong—is that the breaking is due to the undertow of previous waves.
Pipefuls|Christopher Morley
With me it swept to sentiment, and carried me uncontrollably in its undertow.
The Portal of Dreams|Charles Neville Buck
They were quickly carried out to sea by the undertow, which they fought away from and propelled themselves to the surface.
The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea|Janet Aldridge
I love the sea with its impenetrable fathoms, its wash and undertow, and rasp of shingle sucked anew.
The Roadmender|Michael Fairless

British Dictionary definitions for undertow

undertow

/ (ˈʌndəˌtəʊ) /

noun

the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach

any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for undertow

undertow

[ ŭn′dər-tō′ ]

An underwater current flowing strongly away from shore. Undertows are generally caused by the seaward return of water from waves that have broken against the shore.

单词	undertow
释义	undertow [ uhn-der-toh ] / ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ / SEE SYNONYMS FOR undertow ON THESAURUS.COM noun the seaward, subsurface flow or draft of water from waves breaking on a beach. any strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current. Origin of undertow First recorded in 1810–20; under- + tow¹ synonym study for undertow 2. Undertow, underset, riptide are terms for a usually strong undercurrent in the ocean, contrary to the direction of surface water. Undertow and another nautical term, underset (a set or current contrary to the general set of the water, or contrary to the wind), came into notice early in the 19th century. The former is still in general use along the Atlantic coast; the latter now less well known. Rip, in use in the U.S. by the late 18th century, properly means a violently disturbed place in a body of water, usually by the meeting of opposing tides. Of recent years, in the form riptide, it has also been used, especially on the Pacific coast, to mean much the same as undertow, dangerous to bathers where heavy surf prevails. Words nearby undertow underthrust, undertime, undertint, undertone, undertook, undertow, undertrick, undertrump, underused, underutilize, undervalue Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for undertow This undertow, of violence and duplicitousness and frustration, paradoxically propels the book forward. Teju Cole’s Keen Eye Spares No One—Himself Included\|Benjamin Lytal\|July 9, 2014\|DAILY BEAST But life itself is messy and unceremonious; it cannot stop too long for death without losing itself to the undertow. Memorial Days After Mourning Has Passed\|Alex Horton\|May 25, 2014\|DAILY BEAST "All along the undertow is strengthening its hold," Cuomo sang. Remembering Weezer’s ‘The Blue Album,’ A Garage Rock Classic, on Its 20th Anniversary\|Andrew Romano\|May 10, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Seven days after Flight 370 disappeared, the families of those on board are stuck in an undertow of uncertainty. The Flight 370 Paradox: How Do You Mourn a Missing Person?\|Abby Haglage\|March 15, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Given the frustration in the international community, Israel must reverse an undertow of isolation. Full Video and Transcript of Obama's Speech in Israel\|Justin Green\|March 21, 2013\|DAILY BEAST In the course of a month the secret propaganda was moving with the invisible, sinister, irresistible suction of an undertow. The White Morning\|Gertrude Atherton For our theory—which may be entirely wrong—is that the breaking is due to the undertow of previous waves. Pipefuls\|Christopher Morley With me it swept to sentiment, and carried me uncontrollably in its undertow. The Portal of Dreams\|Charles Neville Buck They were quickly carried out to sea by the undertow, which they fought away from and propelled themselves to the surface. The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea\|Janet Aldridge I love the sea with its impenetrable fathoms, its wash and undertow, and rasp of shingle sucked anew. The Roadmender\|Michael Fairless British Dictionary definitions for undertow undertow / (ˈʌndəˌtəʊ) / noun the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to undertow undercurrent, eddy, vortex, whirlpool, riptide Scientific definitions for undertow undertow [ ŭn′dər-tō′ ] An underwater current flowing strongly away from shore. Undertows are generally caused by the seaward return of water from waves that have broken against the shore. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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undertow

noun

Origin of undertow

synonym study for undertow

Words nearby undertow

Example sentences from the Web for undertow

British Dictionary definitions for undertow

noun

Words related to undertow

Scientific definitions for undertow