tribute
noun
trib·ute
| \ ˈtri-(ˌ)byüt
, -byət\
, -byət\
Definition of tribute
1a
: something given or contributed voluntarily as due or deserved
especially
: a gift or service showing respect, gratitude, or affection
a floral tribute
b
: something (such as material evidence or a formal attestation) that indicates the worth, virtue, or effectiveness of the one in question
the design is a tribute to his ingenuity
2a
: a payment by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection
also
: the tax levied for such a payment
b(1)
: an excessive tax, rental, or tariff imposed by a government, sovereign, lord, or landlord
(2)
: an exorbitant charge levied by a person or group having the power of coercion
c
: the liability to pay tribute