Dictionary
1tributary
adjective trib·u·tary \ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē\
Definition of TRIBUTARY
1
2
: paid or owed as tribute <tributary gifts>
3
: channeling material or supplies into something more inclusive : contributory
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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
: a stream that flows into a larger stream or river or into a lake
plural tributar·ies
Full Definition of TRIBUTARY
1
: a ruler or state that pays tribute to a conqueror
2
: a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake
See tributary defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TRIBUTARY
14th century
Related to TRIBUTARY
Other Geology Terms
TRIBUTARY Defined for Kids
tributary
noun trib·u·tary \ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē\
plural trib·u·tar·ies
Definition of TRIBUTARY for Kids
: a stream flowing into a larger stream or a lake <The river has several tributaries.>
Medical Dictionary
tributary
noun trib·u·tary \ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē\
plural trib·u·tar·ies
Medical Definition of TRIBUTARY
: a vein that empties into a larger vein
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