tributary
Other forms: tributaries
A tributary is a branch that flows into the main stream, like the White River, the Arkansas River, the Yazoo River ,and the Red River — each a tributary of the mighty Mississippi.
The noun tributary is related to the word tribute and both come from the Latin word tributum, meaning “a thing contributed or paid.” Long ago, a tributary was someone who was forced to pay a person or group in return for protection — namely from those who received the tribute. Today, a tributary is a smaller body of water that flows into a larger one or a contributing factor in something that happens.
-
a branch that flows into the main streamantonyms:distributarya branch of a river that flows away from the main stream and does not rejoin ittype of:brancha stream or river connected to a larger one
-
(of a stream) flowing into a larger streamsynonyms:secondarybeing of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
-
paying tribute“a tributary colony”synonyms:obligatedcaused by law or conscience to follow a certain course
-
tending to bring about; being partly responsible forsynonyms: conducive, contributing, contributive, contributorycausativeproducing an effect
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing tributary
Physical geography will be a breeze once you master this list of terms related to Earth's physical features. You'll review climate and weather, landforms and bodies of water, biomes and ecosystems, and the geological structure of the Earth — and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Physical geography will be a breeze once you master this list of terms related to Earth's physical features. You'll review climate and weather, landforms and bodies of water, biomes and ecosystems, and the geological structure of the Earth — and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Review this list of words related to Africa and explore the diverse countries of the world's second-largest continent. You'll learn about the climate, biomes, natural resources, and geographical features of Africa. This list also covers African wildlife, including the gazelle, the lemur, the wildebeest, and more.