Ebb vs. Flow: What's the Difference?

The receding or outgoing tide, occurring between the time when the tide is highest and the time when the following tide is lowest. Also called ebb tide, falling tide.

To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid.

A period of decline or diminution

To issue in a stream; pour forth

To fall back from the flood stage.

To circulate, as the blood in the body.

To fall away or back; decline or recede. See Synonyms at recede1.

To move with a continual shifting of component particles

The receding movement of the tide.

To proceed steadily and easily

A gradual decline.

To exhibit a smooth or graceful continuity

(especially in the phrase 'at a low ebb') A low state; a state of depression.

To hang loosely and gracefully

A European bunting, the corn bunting (Emberiza calandra, syns. Emberiza miliaria, Milaria calandra).

To rise. Used of the tide.

(intransitive) to flow back or recede

To arise; derive

(intransitive) to fall away or decline

To be abundant; teem

(intransitive) to fish with stakes and nets that serve to prevent the fish from getting back into the sea with the ebb

To move from one place to another in large numbers

(transitive) To cause to flow back.

To menstruate.

Low, shallow

To undergo plastic deformation without cracking or breaking. Used of rocks, metals, or minerals.

The European bunting.

To release as a flow

The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal wave toward the sea; - opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out on the ebb.

To cause to flow

The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay.

The act of flowing.

To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean; - opposed to flow.

The smooth motion characteristic of fluids.

To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline; to decay; to recede.

A stream or current.

To cause to flow back.

A flood or overflow.

Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.

A residual mass that has stopped flowing

A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)

A continuous output or outpouring

The outward flow of the tide

A continuous movement or circulation

Flow back or recede;

The amount that flows in a given period of time.

Hem in fish with stakes and nets so as to prevent them from going back into the sea with the ebb

The rising of the tide.

Fall away or decline;

Continuity and smoothness of appearance.

A general movement or tendency

The sequence in which operations are performed.

An apparent ease or effortlessness of performance

Menstrual discharge.

Movement in people or things characterized with a continuous motion, involving either a non solid mass or a multitude.

The movement of a real or figurative fluid.

(math) A formalization of the idea of the motion of particles in a fluid, as a group action of the real numbers on a set.

The rising movement of the tide.

Smoothness or continuity.

The amount of a fluid that moves or the rate of fluid movement.

A flow pipe, carrying liquid away from a boiler or other central plant (compare with return pipe which returns fluid to central plant).

(psychology) A mental state characterized by concentration, focus and enjoyment of a given task.

The emission of blood during menstruation.

The ability to skilfully rap along to a beat.

(software) The sequence of steps taken in a piece of software to perform some action.

(Scotland) A morass or marsh.

(intransitive) To move as a fluid from one position to another.

(intransitive) To proceed; to issue forth.

(intransitive) To move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously.

(intransitive) To have or be in abundance; to abound, so as to run or flow over.

(intransitive) To hang loosely and wave.

(intransitive) To rise, as the tide; opposed to ebb.

To arrange (text in a wordprocessor, etc.) so that it wraps neatly into a designated space; to reflow.

(transitive) To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.

(transitive) To cover with varnish.

(intransitive) To discharge excessive blood from the uterus.

To move with a continual change of place among the particles or parts, as a fluid; to change place or circulate, as a liquid; as, rivers flow from springs and lakes; tears flow from the eyes.

To become liquid; to melt.

To proceed; to issue forth; as, wealth flows from industry and economy.

To glide along smoothly, without harshness or asperties; as, a flowing period; flowing numbers; to sound smoothly to the ear; to be uttered easily.

To have or be in abundance; to abound; to full, so as to run or flow over; to be copious.

To hang loose and waving; as, a flowing mantle; flowing locks.

To rise, as the tide; - opposed to ebb; as, the tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.

To discharge blood in excess from the uterus.

To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.

To cover with varnish.

A stream of water or other fluid; a current; as, a flow of water; a flow of blood.

A continuous movement of something abundant; as, a flow of words.

Any gentle, gradual movement or procedure of thought, diction, music, or the like, resembling the quiet, steady movement of a river; a stream.

The tidal setting in of the water from the ocean to the shore. See Ebb and flow, under Ebb.

A low-lying piece of watery land; - called also flow moss and flow bog.

The motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

The amount of fluid that flows in a given time

The act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression

Any uninterrupted stream or discharge

Something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously;

Dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas;

The monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause;

Move or progress freely as if in a stream;

Move along, of liquids;

Cause to flow;

Be abundantly present;

Fall or flow in a certain way;

Cover or swamp with water

Undergo menstruation;