tributary

¹trib·u·tary

adjective \ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē\

Definition of TRIBUTARY

1

: paying tribute to another to acknowledge submission, to obtain protection, or to purchase peace : subject

2

: paid or owed as tribute <tributary gifts>

3

: channeling material or supplies into something more inclusive : contributory

First Known Use of TRIBUTARY

14th century

Rhymes with TRIBUTARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry

²tributary

noun

plural tributar·ies

Definition of TRIBUTARY

1

: a ruler or state that pays tribute to a conqueror

2

: a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake

Examples of TRIBUTARY

1. one of the river's tributaries
2. This stream is a tributary of the Ohio River.

First Known Use of TRIBUTARY

14th century

Related to TRIBUTARY

Synonyms

affluent, bayou, branch, confluent, feeder, influent

Antonyms

distributary, effluent

Related Words

backwater; brook, brooklet, creek, rill, rivulet, run [chiefly Midland], streamlet; fountainhead, head, headstream, headwater, source

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

trib·u·tary

noun \ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; trib·u·tar·ies

Medical Definition of TRIBUTARY

: a vein that empties into a larger vein