tributary
noun
trib·u·tary
| \ ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē
\
\
plural tributaries
Definition of tributary
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake
2
: a ruler or state that pays tribute to a conqueror
tributary
adjectiveDefinition of tributary (Entry 2 of 2)
2
: paid or owed as tribute
tributary gifts
3
: channeling material or supplies into something more inclusive : contributory
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for tributary
Synonyms: Noun
affluent, bayou, branch, confluent, feeder, influent
Antonyms: Noun
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of tributary in a Sentence
Noun
one of the river's tributaries This stream is a tributary of the Ohio River.Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Westley in mid-July joined other scientists on a hasty trip to the Koyukuk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, where residents of the village of Huslia saw dead or disoriented chum salmon. — Washington Post, "Alaska salmon deaths blamed on record warm temperatures," 25 Aug. 2019 Westley in mid-July joined other scientists on a hasty trip to the Koyukuk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, where residents of the village of Huslia saw dead or disoriented chum salmon. — Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska salmon deaths blamed on record high temperatures," 23 Aug. 2019 Peteraf said butts can enter the Susquehanna River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, via city storm drains. — David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "CAT Club of Havre de Grace works to keep city litter-free," 7 Aug. 2019 The state’s Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Agriculture are analyzing water samples from the bay and from around the spill site, including Anderson Creek, a tributary of the Tillamook River. — oregonlive.com, "Manure spill splashes 300,000 gallons near Tillamook Bay," 23 July 2019 But London was already a bustling hub of commerce and trade thanks to the River Thames and its tributaries, including the Walbrook. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "A 2,000-year-old stylus makes a point about ancient Roman humor," 31 July 2019 The 33-mile-long Jordan River, a tributary of Lake Charlevoix, has a reputation for being one of the best spots in Michigan to reel in brook trout, steelhead and salmon. — Damien Dennis, chicagotribune.com, "Camping in Northern Michigan means having it all, away from it all," 31 July 2019 Heavy snowfall on the Great Plains over the winter and relentless rains in the spring have already swollen the region’s bayous and the Mississippi River and its tributaries, which drain to the Gulf. — Adeel Hassan, New York Times, "Hurricane Expected to Form in Gulf as Rain Pounds New Orleans," 10 July 2019 The freshwater from the river carries comparatively high levels of nutrients, including fertilizer from Midwest farms and untreated or incompletely treated sewage from communities along the river and its tributaries, into the lake. — Diana Samuels, nola.com, "Algae bloom rising in Lake Pontchartrain, so stay out of the water and avoid lake fish, health department warns," 21 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Though snakes are rare in snow country, one of the most prolific rattlesnake areas in California is the lower reaches of Rattlesnake Creek, a tributary canyon to the Kern River in Sequoia National Park (Tulare County). — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Rattlesnake season is here. Be prepared.," 28 June 2019 Each tributary canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes, and vivid colors. — Jill K. Robinson, San Francisco Chronicle, "Top 10 California parks: Little known wonders," 9 May 2018 Coastal fall tributary seasons: Will be announced later this spring; however, there will be no wild coho fishing in north coast tributaries this year. — Bill Monroe, OregonLive.com, "Salmon seasons set for Oregon Coast, Columbia River," 13 Apr. 2018 The owners of this 10,000-acre property purchased it on an impulse, then built a house situated on the rimrock of a tributary canyon. — Wsj Real Estate, WSJ, "Going Up? Incline Elevators Help Hillside Homeowners," 10 Aug. 2017 At Lewis Smith, best bet is to look for striped bass making spawning runs up the tributary rivers--the fish migrate from early March to early April before returning to the depths of the lake for the rest of the year. — Frank Sargeant, AL.com, "Friday Fishing Report," 15 Mar. 2018 Testing of the tributary waters that feed the lake has been scaled back; a public water quality board folded; a real-time chemical spill monitoring system in the St. Clair River shuttered through neglect and disinterest. — Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, "Lake St. Clair: Beach closures, 'nasty stuff' in the water, a problem that doesn't get fixed," 29 Sep. 2017 But in China’s case, that pushback comes not just from the West but also from neighbors who remember the tributary system of its imperial past — or are wary of its Communist political system despite its embrace of capitalism decades ago. — Jane Perlez, New York Times, "Xi Jinping Pushes China’s Global Rise Despite Friction and Fear," 22 Oct. 2017 At Lewis Smith, stripers continue the gradual move away from the dam and up into the tributary arms, particularly Rock Creek, Brushy Creek and the Sipsey River areas. — Frank Sargeant, AL.com, "Friday Fishing Report," 20 Oct. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tributary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for tributary
tributary
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tributary
: a stream that flows into a larger stream or river or into a lake
tributary
noun
trib·u·tary
| \ ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē
\
\
plural tributaries
Kids Definition of tributary
: a stream flowing into a larger stream or a lake
The river has several tributaries.
tributary
noun
trib·u·tary
| \ ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē
\
\
plural tributaries
Medical Definition of tributary
: a vein that empties into a larger vein