ebb

ebb
/eb/, n.
1. the flowing back of the tide as the water returns to the sea (opposed to flood, flow).
2. a flowing backward or away; decline or decay: the ebb of a once great nation.
3. a point of decline: His fortunes were at a low ebb.
v.i.
4. to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (opposed to flow).
5. to decline or decay; fade away: His life is gradually ebbing.
[bef. 1000; (n.) ME eb(be), OE ebba; c. OFris ebba, D eb(be), G Ebbe ebb, ON efja place where water backs up; (v.) ME ebben, OE ebbian, deriv. of the n.; akin to OFF]
Syn. 4. subside, abate, recede, retire. 5. dwindle, diminish, decrease.

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Universalium. 2010.

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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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