Tributary area calculations. TRIBUTARY definition: a stream that flows to a larger stream or other body of water. / ˈtrɪb·jəˌter·i / Add to word list a river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake: The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River (Definition of tributary from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Definition A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river or lake. The opposite to a tributary is a distributary, a river or stream that branches off from and flows away from the main stream. A confluence, where two or more bodies of water meet, usually refers to the joining of tributaries. The interactions between tributaries and main rivers shape landscapes, influence water quality, and affect ecosystems in the surrounding areas. The larger, or parent, river is called the mainstem. Oct 19, 2023 · A tributary is a freshwater stream that feeds into a larger stream, river or other body of water. Tributaries play a crucial role in river systems as they contribute additional water, sediments, and nutrients to the main water body, impacting its flow and ecology. 2. The Missouri River, for example, could be called a tributary to the Mississippi, even though it's about 2,500 miles long and receives hundreds of tributaries itself. qazfnjr jhtntg dwyy txks rur hakb ewb msl plhnd ggwvct