tributaries
Streams feeding rivers
Tributaries are streams or rivers that flow into larger ones rather than directly into the sea.
The Mississippi has hundreds of tributaries, the Missouri being the largest.
The word extends to anything that feeds into something bigger: Tributaries of influence flowed into the main campaign.
The singular is tributary.
Very small streams
- brooksMinor flowing waterways
- creeksSmall natural watercourses
- rillsSmall, narrow streams
- runnelsSmall water channels
headwaters · freshets · springs · watercourses · becks · burns · arroyos · wadis
Point where things meet
- mergingBlending into one
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- meetingGathering for discussion
- joiningLinking into one
union · mouth · delta · conflux · inflow · drainage · watershed · downstream
Interconnected flowing waterways
- drainage basinArea feeding one waterway
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- hydrologicalOf water distribution study
- waterwaysNavigable bodies for transport
interconnected · fluvial · catchment · arteries · channels · flow · irrigation · canals
Branching like a tree
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
- forkingDividing into branches
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
offshoot · splitting · arborescent · veining · fractal · river delta · distributaries · braided
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- dependentRequiring outside support
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
taxation · suzerainty · dominion · overlord · fiefdom · subjugation · empire · colony
rivulets
Very small streams
runnels · headwaters · freshets · springs · watercourses · becks · burns · arroyos · wadis · gullies
junction
Point where things meet
- mergingBlending into one
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- meetingGathering for discussion
joining · union · mouth · delta · conflux · inflow · drainage · watershed · downstream · mainstream
river system
Interconnected flowing waterways
- drainage basinArea feeding one waterway
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- hydrologicalOf water distribution study
waterways · interconnected · fluvial · catchment · arteries · channels · flow · irrigation · canals · aqueducts
dendritic
Branching like a tree
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
- forkingDividing into branches
divergence · offshoot · splitting · arborescent · veining · fractal · river delta · distributaries · braided · meander
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- dependentRequiring outside support
- feudalOf tiered landownership
allegiance · taxation · suzerainty · dominion · overlord · fiefdom · subjugation · empire · colony
- hydrologyrivers, streamflow, aquifers, aquifer, lakes
- Missouri RiverMissouri River, Bismarck, Pierre, Omaha, Kansas City
- ThamesRiver Thames, Thames Barrier, tidal river, riverbank, towpath
- Yangtze RiverYangtze, Yangtze River, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, gorges
- Yellow RiverYellow River, Loess Plateau, river source, river bend, silt
- Kaveri River
tributariesmain stem
Central supporting stalk
main channel · mainstem · river mouth · estuary · ocean
- river tributariesStreams feeding larger flows
tribute, attribute, contribution, tributary, distributor, contributions, contributory, attributable