flood / high tide
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flood
A situation in which a river has such a high water level that it bursts its banks and floods land.
Nach tagelangem Regen führte der Fluss Hochwasser und viele Keller liefen voll.
After days of rain, the river flooded, and many basements filled with water.
high tide
The highest level of the water on the coast during the tides. The opposite of low tide.
Bei Hochwasser kann man hier nicht am Strand spazieren gehen.
At high tide, you can't go for a walk on the beach here.
The word is simply made up of 'hoch' (high) and 'Wasser' (water). So it describes a situation in which the water is high.
Wegen des Hochwassers sind viele Straßen gesperrt.
Because of the flood, many roads are closed.
The context makes clear which meaning is intended. If a 'Fluss' (river) or 'Ufer' (bank) is mentioned, it is about flooding. If it is about the 'Meer' (sea), the 'Küste' (coast), or 'Ebbe und Flut' (ebb and flow / tides), the tide is meant.
Der Rhein führt Hochwasser und die Schifffahrt wurde eingestellt.
The Rhine is flooding, and shipping has been suspended.
When a river bursts its banks, people often say 'der Fluss führt Hochwasser' (the river is in flood) or 'es gibt Hochwasser' (there is flooding). People can 'vom Hochwasser betroffen sein' (be affected by the flood).
Die Feuerwehr warnt, dass die Donau bald Hochwasser führen könnte.
The fire department is warning that the Danube could soon flood.
When it comes to the tides, 'Hochwasser' (high tide) is the highest water level in the cycle of 'Ebbe und Flut' (ebb and flow / tides). The typical formulation is 'es ist Hochwasser' (it is high tide).
In sechs Stunden ist wieder Hochwasser.
In six hours it will be high tide again.
tide / flood
When a river has overflowed its banks, both words can be appropriate. Hochwasser focuses primarily on the very high water level and the resulting state of the river. Flut focuses more strongly on the large masses of water spreading over land that is normally dry.
Nach dem Dauerregen steigt das Hochwasser des Flusses über die Ufer.
After the prolonged rain, the river's flood level rose above the banks.
Nach dem Dauerregen dringt die Flut vom Fluss weit in die Felder vor.
After the prolonged rain, the floodwaters spread far from the river into the fields.
