ebb
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ebb1 /eb/ noun 1. [singular] (also ebb tide)HEO the flow of the sea away from the shore, when the tide goes out 落潮，退潮 OPP flood tide2 be at a low ebb LEASTto be in a bad state or condition 处于低潮；处于衰退状态 His confidence is at a low ebb. 他的信心很低落。3 ebb and flow CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHERa situation or state in which something increases and decreases in a kind of pattern 〔有规律的〕涨落，起伏 the ebb and flow of the conversation 时高时低的谈话声 the ebb and flow of passengers in the station 车站里时多时少的客流
Examples from the Corpus
ebb• John summed it up as the super sixties, sobering seventies and ebb and flow of the eighties.• In the past eighteen months he has felt at an appallingly low ebb.• We had a few concluding words about the literary scene in London, which he thought to have reached a pretty low ebb.• Inspiration seemed to be at a very low ebb.• At her lowest ebb, she would have scorned to stoop to such tactics.• At his lowest ebb, Macari was threatened with imprisonment and his wife rang friends to secure bail money of £50,000.• The latest setback is another sign of the ebb in the governor's influence.ebb2 verb [intransitive] 1. HEOif the tide ebbs, it flows away from the shore 〔潮水〕落，退2 (also ebb away)REDUCE to gradually decrease 衰退；逐渐减少 Linda’s enthusiasm began to ebb away. 琳达的热情开始减退。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
ebb• Delay it, and its vitality would ebb.• Under these conditions, our normal self-assurance ebbs.• But the fear, whatever it was, was ebbing, and I could once again take deep breaths and release them.• The tide was ebbing, and they went down on the steeply shelving bed of the Conway.• Now the excitement had begun to ebb at leaving Miss Tish.• But their strength was ebbing away, and neither DeFreitas nor Botham could contribute, both on the field but carrying injuries.• As El Ni o ebbs away, drought follows the torrential rain.• I could feel my courage ebbing away.• But the power of men like Allen ebbed quickly after segregationist Democrats regained command of the Legislature in 1872.Origin ebb1 Old English ebba the from sea the flow Corpus away the of
ebb
ebb1 /eb/ 
noun
OPP flood tide
2. be at a low ebb to be in a bad state or condition:
His confidence is at a low ebb.
3. ebb and flow a situation or state in which something increases and decreases in a kind of pattern:
the ebb and flow of the conversation
the ebb and flow of passengers in the station
ebb2 verb [intransitive]
1. if the tide ebbs, it flows away from the shore
2. (also ebb away) to gradually decrease:
Linda’s enthusiasm began to ebb away.
| I |
noun Language: Old English
Origin: ebba
1. [singular] (also ebb tide) the flow of the sea away from the shore, when the tide goes out Origin: ebba
OPP flood tide
2. be at a low ebb to be in a bad state or condition:
3. ebb and flow a situation or state in which something increases and decreases in a kind of pattern:
| II |
verb [intransitive]1. if the tide ebbs, it flows away from the shore
2. (also ebb away) to gradually decrease:
