A neap tide occurs only twice a month, during the first and third quarter moon. A neap tide has the lowest high tides and highest low tides of the month. The tidal range (distance on the beach between high and low tide) is at its lowest.
A spring tide also occurs twice a month, but at the full and new moon. A spring tide has the largest tidal range of the month, so the distance between high and low tide is the greatest. This means higher high tides and lower low tides.
The pattern of the lunar month's spring and neap tides is nicely animated at this site: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/media/supp_tide06a.html
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