neap tide


noun

either of the two tides that occur at the first or last quarter of the moon when the tide-generating forces of the sun and moon oppose each other and produce the smallest rise and fall in tidal level Compare spring tide (def. 1)

Example sentences from the Web for neap tide

Scientific definitions for neap tide

neap tide
[ nēp ]

A tide in which the difference between high and low tide is the least. Neap tides occur twice a month when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to the Earth. When this is the case, their total gravitational pull on the Earth's water is weakened because it comes from two different directions. Compare spring tide. See more at tide.