tributary
Americannoun
plural
tributaries-
a stream that flows to a larger stream or other body of water.
-
a person or nation that pays tribute in acknowledgment of subjugation or the like.
adjective
-
(of a stream) flowing into a larger stream or other body of water.
-
furnishing subsidiary aid; contributory.
-
paying or required to pay tribute.
-
paid as tribute.
-
subject; subordinate.
a tributary nation.
noun
-
a stream, river, or glacier that feeds another larger one
-
a person, nation, or people that pays tribute
adjective
-
(of a stream, etc) feeding a larger stream
-
given or owed as a tribute
-
paying tribute
Other Word Forms
- nontributary adjective
- tributarily adverb
- untributarily adverb
- untributary adjective
Etymology
Origin of tributary
1325–75; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Latin tribūtārius of tribute, one who pays tribute. See tribute, -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But a subject not participating in his biography is sometimes for the best: Skillful writers like Mr. O’Brien know how to find the tributaries where rich, untold material lies waiting to be excavated.
Two weeks ago the government announced the suspension of dredging in the Tapajos River, a key Amazon River tributary, after Indigenous-led protests.
From Barron's
Toxins entered a tributary feeding the Kafue, Zambia's longest river and a major source of drinking water.
From Barron's
The Severn Estuary is home to huge numbers of sprats and salmon, and the twaite shad, a protected migrating species which spawns in the tributaries of the River Severn.
From BBC
It was a town on the White Volta, a major tributary of the Volta River, way up north.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
