Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
eau de toilette
eau de vie
eaves
eaves spout
eaves trough
eavesdrop
EB virus
eba
ebb
ebb tide
Ebbw Vale
EBCDIC
Ebionite
EBIT
EBITDA
Eblaite
Ebola
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "ebb" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

ebb

ebb [ eb ]


intransitive verb  (past and past participle ebbed, present participle ebb·ing, 3rd person present singular ebbs)
Definition:
 
1. recede from shore: to recede from the land, as the tide falls ( refers to the sea or tide )

2. diminish: to diminish or lessen in intensity
The pain gradually ebbed away.



noun 
Definition:
 
1. tidal movement away from land: the movement of a receding tide away from the land

2. diminution: a diminution or lessening in intensity
the ebb and flow of the company's fortunes

[ Old English ebbian< Germanic]

at a low ebb 

1. 
lacking hope and energy
 

2. 
in a depleted condition


Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft