undertow

[ uhn-der-toh ]
/ ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ /

noun

the seaward, subsurface flow or draft of water from waves breaking on a beach.
any strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current.

Origin of undertow

First recorded in 1810–20; under- + tow1

SYNONYMS FOR undertow

2 Undertow, underset, riptide are terms for a usually strong undercurrent in the ocean, contrary to the direction of surface water. Undertow and another nautical term, underset (a set or current contrary to the general set of the water, or contrary to the wind), came into notice early in the 19th century. The former is still in general use along the Atlantic coast; the latter now less well known. Rip, in use in the U.S. by the late 18th century, properly means a violently disturbed place in a body of water, usually by the meeting of opposing tides. Of recent years, in the form riptide, it has also been used, especially on the Pacific coast, to mean much the same as undertow, dangerous to bathers where heavy surf prevails.

Example sentences from the Web for undertow

British Dictionary definitions for undertow

undertow
/ (ˈʌndəˌtəʊ) /

noun

the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach
any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current

Scientific definitions for undertow

undertow
[ ŭndər-tō′ ]

An underwater current flowing strongly away from shore. Undertows are generally caused by the seaward return of water from waves that have broken against the shore.