neap
/ni:p/
Definition
Noun:
- A tide of minimum range occurring at the first and last quarters of the moon: A "neap" is a tide with the smallest difference between high and low water levels. It happens when the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, which occurs during the moon's first and third (last) quarter phases.
Adjective:
- Designating such a tide: Used to describe the tide or tidal period when the range between high and low water is at its smallest.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The boat was grounded during the neap. (The boat was stuck on the bottom when the tide was at its lowest point of the cycle.)
- Fishing is often less productive during a neap due to the reduced water movement.
- Adjective:
- We planned the dock repairs for the neap tide period. (We scheduled the repairs for the time when the tidal range is smallest.)
- Neap tides are generally weaker than spring tides.
Advanced Usage
- "Neap range": The small vertical difference between high tide and low tide during a neap tide period.
- The neap range here is only about one meter.
- "To be neaped" (archaic/nautical): For a vessel to be stranded or grounded by a neap tide, leaving it unable to float until the next spring tide.
- The ship was neaped in the harbor for over a week.
Variants and Related Words
- Neap tide: The full, more common term for the phenomenon. This is a compound noun where "neap" functions as an adjective.
- Neap tides occur twice a month.
- Spring tide: The opposite tidal phenomenon, with the greatest range between high and low water.
Synonyms
- Low tide (specifically for the low water point, but not the entire period).
- Minimal tide (descriptive).
Antonyms
- Spring tide: A tide of maximum range occurring at new and full moons.
Noun
-
a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon
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