Tributaries Meaning and Definition

Tributaries

Tributaries

Pronunciation

/ˈtrɪbjʊˈtɛriiɪz/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A stream or river that joins a larger body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or river.

Examples

  • The tributary flowed into the lake.
  • The river had several tributaries that contributed to its size.

Synonyms

  • Stream
  • Riverbed

Antonyms

  • Source
  • Headwater

Etymology

From Latin tributarius, formed from tributum “contribution” + -arius -ary suffix.

Usage Notes

Tributaries are often used to describe smaller waterways that flow into a larger body of water. They can also refer to the action of flowing into a larger body of water.

Cultural References

Tributaries have been featured in various forms of media, including literature, film, and music. For example, in the novel “The River” by Gary Paulsen, a character’s journey takes him through a series of tributaries.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“The tributary flows” is a common idiom that refers to contributing to a larger effort or project.

Related Words or Phrases

Confluence, source, headwater, delta.

Collocations

Tributaries often collocate with words like “flow”, “join”, “contribute”, and “feed”.

Frequency of Use

Tributaries are used relatively infrequently in everyday conversation, but are commonly used in scientific and technical contexts.

Common Misspellings

Tributiries, Tributarys, Tributaree.

Related Words