tidal wave
7
3.2
- noun
- /ˈtaɪdəl weɪv/
:
maremoto
- After the earthquake, scientists warned residents about the potential for a destructive tidal wave in the area.
- tidal wave hit
- a huge tidal wave
- a giant tidal wave
We create a tidal wave, correct, that will level a coastal city with radiation water, correct?
- We create a tidal wave, correct, that will level a coastal city with radiation water, correct?
- They're capable of saying, if a tidal wave is approaching a data center, the machine will say that will wipe out my code.
Examples
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But when you've seen images of true destruction after tidal waves or tornadoes, we got away without the vast devastation that we theoretically could have experienced.
Blog text (14) -
The coastal town was devastated when a tidal wave crashed into the shore, flooding homes and streets.
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And so in came the tidal wave doing a lot of damage.
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There will be a very large tidal wave moving quickly through the Atlantic Ocean.
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A towering tidal wave struck, killing everyone.
Academic text (2004) -
Tidal waves hundreds of feet high will sweep in from the coasts.
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BBC World News is reporting another 3m tidal wave about to make landfall.
Blog text (20) -
Once they have been cleared, coastal areas are much more vulnerable to erosion, flooding, cyclones, and tidal waves.
Academic text (1996) -
Beyond Jane's shadowy profile, Dan could see the ocean stirring, frothing, an enormous tidal wave rising up higher, higher, a mountain of foaming water rushing down on them.
Fiction book (2001) -
The news reported that the tidal wave wiped out entire villages during its path across the coastline.
Synonyms
87
4.9
A very large sea wave caused by an earthquake that can flood land
4
9.8
A large fast wave that moves up a river when the tide comes in
A high wave that moves upriver against the river current
A large sudden wave that moves up a river or estuary because of the tide
A sudden high wave that moves up a river during strong tides
A strong sea wave that moves up a river against the current
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a sudden and overwhelming surge' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'tidal' (relating to large periodic sea movements) with 'wave' (a swell or surge), so the compound evokes a large sea-like surge applied metaphorically to emotions or events. This compositional metaphor is common cross-linguistically (e.g. 'wave of emotion') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Tidal wave is a picture from the sea: tide is the rising sea and wave is a moving wall of water, so a tidal wave is a very large wave that suddenly floods the coast, which is why it means 'a very large wave or sudden rise of water along the coast'.