tributary
tributary — noun
- tributarysingular
- tributariesplural
1. a smaller river that runs into a bigger river or into a lake
a smaller river that runs into a bigger river or into a lake
The creek becomes a tributary of the Tamsui River near the bridge.
tributary of + river
Feng fished in a cold tributary before hiking back to camp.
After heavy rain, the muddy tributary flooded the rice fields first.
Scientists found frog eggs in a shaded tributary beside the main channel.
文法句型
a tributary of + river
a tributary to + river
用法筆記
Usually used with of or to when you name the larger river or lake that the smaller waterway enters.
tributary — adjective
- tributarypositive
- more tributarycomparative
- most tributarysuperlative
1. belonging to a weaker state or people that regularly gives goods or money to a s
belonging to a weaker state or people that regularly gives goods or money to a stronger power
The small island remained tributary to the empire for two centuries.
tributary to + power
Court records list three tributary kingdoms sending silk each spring.
tributary kingdoms
The border town stayed tributary until the king lost the war.
The records describe the mountain clans as tributary allies of the court.
- independent
not controlled by a stronger power
- sovereign
emphasizes full political authority
文法句型
a tributary state
tributary to + empire
用法筆記
Usually used in history or politics for lands, rulers, or peoples under the authority of a stronger power.
2. given to a stronger ruler or country as a required payment or gift
given to a stronger ruler or country as a required payment or gift
The palace stored tributary gold in a locked stone room.
tributary + valuable goods
The treaty set the amount of tributary grain for each harvest.
tributary grain
Officials counted the tributary horses before opening the city gates.
A scribe recorded every tributary payment on a bamboo slip.
文法句型
tributary gold
tributary payment
用法筆記
This sense describes the goods or payments themselves, not the state that sends them.
3. describing a road, canal, line, or similar route that feeds into a larger system
describing a road, canal, line, or similar route that feeds into a larger system
Engineers repaired the tributary canal before rice planting began.
tributary canal
A tributary road carries trucks from the farms to the highway.
tributary road
The lab tracks tributary pipelines that feed gas into the network.
New tributary routes brought extra buses into the city center.
- contributory
more abstract and often used of causes rather than routes
- feeder
commoner in transport and engineering labels
- main
describes the central route rather than an incoming one
文法句型
tributary canal
tributary road
用法筆記
Often used for routes or channels that send traffic, water, or supplies into something larger.