Meanings
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1
noun
a river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake
The Missouri River is a major tributary of the Mississippi.
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2
adj
flowing into a larger river, lake, or system
Pollution entered the reservoir through several tributary streams.
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3
adj
paying tribute to, dependent on, or subordinate to a more powerful state
The empire demanded annual payments from each tributary kingdom.
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4
noun
a state or people that pays tribute to a more powerful ruler or state
The smaller kingdom remained a tributary of the empire for decades.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English tributarie, from Latin tributarius, "relating to tribute," from tributum, "a contribution or tax." The political senses are oldest. The river sense arose by metaphor: a smaller stream contributes its water to a larger one as a subject state contributes tribute.