Recede, as the tide (3)
I believe the answer is:
ebb
'recede as the tide' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for ebb that I've seen before include "Flow back or recede" , "(Of tidewater) recede" , "Abate" , "Withdraw heartless" , "Outward flow of the tide" .)