Tributary vs. Confluence

Tributary vs. Confluence — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Tributary and Confluence

Tributarynoun

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

Confluencenoun

The place where two rivers, streams, or other continuously flowing bodies of water meet and become one, especially where a tributary joins a river.

We encountered an abandoned boat at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Tributarynoun

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

Confluencenoun

The act of combining which occurs at the place where rivers and the lake meet.

The confluence of the rivers produced a great rush of water.

Tributaryadjective

Related to the paying of tribute.

Confluencenoun

A convergence or combination of forces, people, or things.

The confluence of our skills resulted in a successful home renovation project.
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Tributaryadjective

subordinate; inferior

Confluencenoun

(biology) The proportion of cells, in a culture medium, that adhere to each other

Tributaryadjective

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

The Ohio has many tributary streams, and is itself tributary to the Mississippi.

Confluencenoun

(computer science) In rewriting systems, property describing which terms can be rewritten with other, equivalent terms.

Tributarynoun

a branch that flows into the main stream

Confluencenoun

a place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers);

Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
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Tributaryadjective

of a stream; flowing into a larger stream

Confluencenoun

a flowing together

Tributaryadjective

paying tribute;

a tributary colony

Confluencenoun

a coming together of people

Tributaryadjective

tending to bring about; being partly responsible for;

working conditions are not conducive to productivitythe seaport was a contributing factor in the growth of the citya contributory factor