estuary

/ˈestʃuəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈestʃueri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈes-chə-ˌwer-ē ˈesh-/ (ame, mw)

estuary — noun

  • estuarysingular
  • estuariesplural

1. the broad opening where a river reaches the sea, allowing fresh water and salt w

1.名詞B2
釋義

the broad opening where a river reaches the sea, allowing fresh water and salt water to mix

例句

Keiko watched the fishing boats return through the wide estuary at sunset.

collocation: wide estuary — describing the broad mouth of a river

The Thames estuary is home to seals, wading birds, and rare plants.

river-name + estuary — used with named rivers: Thames estuary, Hudson estuary

同義詞
  • inlet

    a general term for any narrow coastal indentation filled with seawater; not necessarily fed by a river

  • mouth

    the end of a river where it enters the sea, used more broadly and without the tidal mixing implication

  • firth

    a Scottish term for a long narrow estuary or sea inlet, mostly in place names

反義詞
  • source

    the point where a river begins, opposite to the mouth or estuary

  • headwaters

    the small streams at the start of a river, far inland from the estuary

用法筆記

Distinguish from delta: a delta is a triangular deposit of sediment formed at a river mouth, while an estuary is the wide water passage itself where river meets sea and tides mix fresh and salt water.

常見錯誤

❌The Nile estuary is very fertile.' (when referring to the fan-shaped landform).
✅The Nile delta is very fertile.
💡A delta is a fan-shaped sediment deposit at a river mouth; an estuary is the wide tidal part of the river itself.