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undertow

un·der·tow
U u

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [uhn-der-toh]
    • /ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ/
    • /ˈʌn.də.təʊ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uhn-der-toh]
    • /ˈʌn dərˌtoʊ/

Definitions of undertow word

  • noun undertow the seaward, subsurface flow or draft of water from waves breaking on a beach. 1
  • noun undertow any strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current. 1
  • noun undertow undercurrent of the ocean 1
  • countable noun undertow If there is an undertow of a feeling, that feeling exists in such a weak form that you are hardly aware of it, but it influences the way you think or behave. 0
  • countable noun undertow An undertow is a strong current of water that is moving below the surface current and in a different direction to it. 0
  • noun undertow the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach 0

Information block about the term

Origin of undertow

First appearance:

before 1810
One of the 40% newest English words
First recorded in 1810-20; under- + tow1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Undertow

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

undertow popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 66% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

undertow usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for undertow

noun undertow

  • crosscurrent — a current in a river or sea flowing across another current
  • maelstrom — a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.
  • whirlpool — water in swift, circular motion, as that produced by the meeting of opposing currents, often causing a downward spiraling action.

Top questions with undertow

  • what is undertow?
  • what does undertow mean?
  • what is an undertow?
  • what to do in an undertow?
  • how does an undertow work?
  • what is an undertow in the ocean?
  • how to get out of an undertow?
  • what causes an undertow?
  • what is an undertow in a river?
  • how to make an undertow?

See also

Matching words

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