What does tidal mean?
Tidal is an adjective meaning connected with the tides, the regular rise and fall of the sea caused by gravitational forces. It appears in expressions such as tidal currents, tidal range, tidal flooding, and tidal energy, describing water movements, measurable differences in sea level, coastal hazards, or technology that captures the movement of seawater. The word is used in both British and American English and is especially common in meteorology, oceanography, geography, environmental science, and coastal engineering. Tidal can describe something directly governed by tides, as in a tidal channel, or something that results from tidal movement, as in tidal erosion or tidal flooding. It is more precise than a general word such as oceanic when the connection is specifically to the periodic rise and fall of seawater. The related noun tide names the phenomenon itself, while the adverb tidally is occasionally used in technical writing.
adjectiveRelating to tides, or occurring or operating as a result of the regular rise and fall of the sea. It is commonly used for tidal currents, flooding, ranges, energy, and other phenomena influenced by the movement of ocean water.
- Relating to tides or the regular rise and fall of the sea.
- Caused by, affected by, or occurring with tides.
"The coast was vulnerable to tidal flooding during the storm."
"Tidal currents can make navigation through the bay difficult."
"The island’s tidal energy project is expected to supply nearby communities."
Tidal power turns the moon’s invisible pull on the oceans into electricity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tidal come from?
Tidal was formed in English by adding the suffix -al to tide, producing an adjective meaning “of or relating to tides.” The underlying noun tide is inherited from Germanic sources, although the precise history of its development is not entirely straightforward. The related English forms tideline and tidewater were likewise built from tide to describe coastal features and waters associated with tidal conditions.
Related word forms
How tidal is actually used
Tidal is formal but widely used in scientific, geographic, environmental, and engineering contexts. It normally describes a phenomenon or feature connected with tides rather than the tide itself.
Easily confused with tidal
Tide is the noun for the periodic rise and fall of the sea, while tidal is the adjective describing anything connected with or caused by tides.