undertow


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un·der·tow

 (ŭn′dər-tō′)
n.
1. An underwater current flowing strongly away from shore, usually caused by the seaward return of water from waves that have broken against the shore.
2. A tendency, especially in thought or feeling, contrary to what seems the strongest: "As she talks nostalgically of her days of glory ... a poignant undertow emerges" (Tina Brown).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

undertow

(ˈʌndəˌtəʊ)
n
1. (Physical Geography) the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach
2. (Physical Geography) any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

un•der•tow

(ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ)

n.
1. the seaward, subsurface flow of water from waves breaking on a beach.
2. any strong subsurface current, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current.
[1810–20]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

un·der·tow

(ŭn′dər-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.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.undertow - an inclination contrary to the strongest or prevailing feelingundertow - an inclination contrary to the strongest or prevailing feeling; "his account had a poignant undertow of regret"
inclination - that toward which you are inclined to feel a liking; "her inclination is for classical music"
2.undertow - the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shoreundertow - the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shore
undertide, undercurrent - a current below the surface of a fluid
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

undertow

[ˈʌndətəʊ] Nresaca f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

undertow

[ˈʌndəˌtəʊ] n (of wave) → corrente f di risacca; (undercurrent) → risucchio
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
Outwardly, to the knowledge of the Claytons, all went on as before upon the little vessel; but that there was an undertow leading them toward some unknown danger both felt, though they did not speak of it to each other.
The surf was not heavy, and there was no undertow, so we made shore easily, effecting an equally easy landing.
He calls us; "thugs", "hi-vis little Englanders", "imperial fantasists", "outright conmen", "...people who stoke and normalise...a pernicious, pitiful but utterly vile undertow of xenophobia and hate...", and mentions people who will "push, bark and spit at those with a foreign accent".
On January 13, two Filipino newlyweds were swept to their deaths by a powerful undertow. The man got into trouble and his wife went to his aid, but both perished.
They still add up to a bouncing blur of frenetic energy, but now there always seems a point underscored, or a dark undertow, in each moment of extravaganza.
Some songs are darker and more introspective like In Undertow and Dreams Tonite, while Lollipop (Ode to Jim), is the up-beat indie pop sound we all know and love.
Eun's fiction contrasts familial or societal obligations with an undertow of erratic impulse or emotion.
Dayton, OH, September 10, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Undertow: Death's Twilight by Claudette Melanson chosen as Medalist Winner in the Young Adult Horror category of the 2016 New Apple Summer E-Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing.
Our conference will help nurses "surf life's tough waves, adapt to changing tides, make waves and not get caught in the undertow".
Blues Crime Novel' series, "Undertow" is a deftly written and inherently compelling read from cover to cover.
Underlying every boom-and-bust cycle of financial instability in modern history is a dangerous undertow of greed, says Magnuson, that is now global and electronic and washing up misfortune around the world at the speed of light.