Tributary vs. River — What's the Difference?

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean.

A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of water.

A stream that flows into a larger stream or other body of water.

A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river

A ruler or nation that pays tribute.

Abbr. R. A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.

Making additions or yielding supplies; contributory.

A stream or abundant flow

Paid in tribute.

The fifth and last of the community cards in various poker games, especially Texas hold'em.

Paying tribute

To win a hand in poker by beating (someone) on the basis of the last community card that is turned up.

(hydrology) A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.

A large and often winding stream which drains a land mass, carrying water down from higher areas to a lower point, oftentimes ending in another body of water, such as an ocean or in an inland sea.

(anatomy) A vein which drains into a another vein.

Any large flow of a liquid in a single body.

A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.

(poker) The last card dealt in a hand.

Related to the paying of tribute.

(typography) A visually undesirable effect of white space running down a page, caused by spaces between words on consecutive lines happening to coincide.

Subordinate; inferior

One who rives or splits.

Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing.

(poker) To improve one’s hand to beat another player on the final card in a poker game.

Paying tribute to another, either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace.

One who rives or splits.

Hence, subject; subordinate; inferior.

A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and emptying into the ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream; a stream larger than a rivulet or brook.

Paid in tribute.

Fig.: A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers of blood; rivers of oil.

Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing; as, the Ohio has many tributary streams, and is itself tributary to the Mississippi.

To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl.

A ruler or state that pays tribute, or a stated sum, to a conquering power, for the purpose of securing peace and protection, or as an acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of security.

A large natural stream of water (larger than a creek);

A stream or river flowing into a larger river or into a lake; an affluent.

A branch that flows into the main stream

Of a stream; flowing into a larger stream

Paying tribute;

Tending to bring about; being partly responsible for;