neap tide

neap tideNeap tides occur when the sun, earth, and moon form a right angle and the gravitational pull of the sun counteracts the pull of the moon.

neap tide

N0040600 (nēp)n. A tide that occurs when the difference between high and low tide is least. Neap tide comes twice a month, in the first and third quarters of the moon.

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[Middle English neep, from Old English nēp(flōd), neap (tide).]

neap tide

n (Physical Geography) either of the two tides that occur at the first or last quarter of the moon when the tide-generating forces of the sun and moon oppose each other and produce the smallest rise and fall in tidal level. Compare spring tide¹

neap tide

(nēp) A tide in which the difference between high and low tide is the least. Neap tides occur twice a month when the sun and moon are at right angles to the Earth. When this is the case, their total gravitational pull on the Earth's water is weakened because it comes from two different directions. Compare spring tide. See more at tide.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

neap tide - a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moonneaphigh tide, high water, highwater - the tide when the water is highestspringtide - a greater than average tide occurring during the new and full moons