Check flow of water ebbing (4)
I believe the answer is:
edit
'check' is the definition.
(edit can mean to check or emend)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for edit that I've seen before include "Adjust text" , "Be in charge of (newspaper)" , "Amend a publication" , "Amend and correct" , "Alter text" .)