retardation of the tides

1 definition found

retardation of the tides - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Acceleration \Ac*cel`er*a"tion\, n. [L. acceleratio: cf. F.
     acc['e]l['e]ration.]
     The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated;
     increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward
     the earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to
     retardation.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A period of social improvement, or of intellectual
           advancement, contains within itself a principle of
           acceleration.                            --I. Taylor.
     [1913 Webster] (Astr. & Physics.)
  
     Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the moon's mean
        motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period of
        revolution is now shorter than in ancient times.
  
     Acceleration and retardation of the tides. See Priming  of the tides
        , under Priming.
  
     Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars, the amount by
        which their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the
        sun, in consequence of which they daily come to the
        meridian of any place about three minutes fifty-six
        seconds of solar time earlier than on the day preceding.
        
  
     Acceleration of the planets, the increasing velocity of
        their motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee
        of their orbits.
        [1913 Webster]