Tide-Waves | Commonly Confused Words
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Tide vs. Waves

Tide

/tʌɪd/
The rise and fall of the sea level caused by gravitational forces from the moon and sun

Examples:

Tide is running up.We are fighting the tide.The very basket that you slept in, the tide washed ashore.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Waves

Up and down movements on the surface of water or a repeated motion in other contexts.

Examples:

The radio waves traveled through the dense atmosphere.Excitement washed over her in powerful waves.Waves of nostalgia hit him as he entered the old house.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Tide refers to the rise and fall of the sea level caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and sun, happening at regular intervals.
  • Waves are caused by wind moving over the surface of the sea, creating rippling effects.
  • Tide is a large-scale movement of water, while waves are usually smaller and occur at the surface.
  • Tides occur on a predictable schedule, typically twice a day, whereas wave patterns can vary with the weather.
  • Remember the phrase: The moon affects the tide. Waves are more about the wind at the moment.
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