Other forms: riptides
A riptide is a strong narrow current running out from a beach. Caught in a riptide, riptide warning, pulled out by a riptide.
It is water that came in with the waves finding a narrow channel back out, and it is the commonest cause of drownings at surf beaches. The advice is to swim parallel to the shore until out of it rather than against it, because it is narrow and no swimmer beats it head on. Note that rip current is the more accurate term.
1nounriptideA strong narrow current running out from a beach.
“The lifeguards put up red flags because of a dangerous riptide.”
riptide is a current.
Rip plus tide. The name is loose, since a riptide is a current rather than a tide.
From rip + tide.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Sea & Sailing, Swimming & Diving