distributary

noun

dis·​trib·​u·​tary di-ˈstri-byə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce distributary (audio)
-ˌte-rē
plural distributaries
: a river branch flowing away from the main stream

Examples of distributary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To the left another plume is coming from the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2013 By the 1950s, scientists noticed the consequences: more water was going down the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi. Boyce Upholt, Time, 9 May 2019 Delhi gets its water from the Yamuna river, while Kolkata uses water from the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga. Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019 In 1831, a pathway was dredged between a distributary of the Mississippi and the Red, leading to the formation of the present Atchafalaya river channel. Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, 12 Dec. 2017 Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater. Jane Perlez, New York Times, 28 May 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'distributary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of distributary was in 1863

Dictionary Entries Near distributary

Cite this Entry

“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distributary. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

distributary

noun
dis·​trib·​u·​tary dis-ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce distributary (audio)
plural distributaries
: a river branch flowing away from the main stream

More from Merriam-Webster on distributary

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