tributary
UK/'tribjutәri/US
IELTSTOEFLGREC2
Definitions
n.
A stream or river that flows into a larger river or lake.
支流
n.
A nation or ruler that pays tribute to a more powerful one.
进贡国；附属国
adj.
Flowing into a larger body of water; paying tribute or subordinate.
支流的；进贡的，从属的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedtribut (pay, give) + -ary (relating to) = 'something that pays into.' A river tributary 'pays' its water to the main river; a tributary state 'pays' tribute to a greater power. Both feed into and depend on something bigger.
Root tribut still carries 6 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.major tributary主要支流
- 2.tributary river支流河道
- 3.tributary state附属进贡国
- 4.flow into汇入(干流)
Example Sentences
- 1.
The river has several tributaries feeding it from the mountains.
- 2.
The Missouri is the largest tributary of the Mississippi.
- 3.
The kingdom became a tributary state of the empire.