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Rivulet vs Tributary - What's the difference?

rivulet | tributary |

As nouns the difference between rivulet and tributary

is that rivulet is a small brook or stream; a streamlet while tributary is (river) A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.

As an adjective tributary is

related to the paying of tribute.

rivulet

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small brook or stream; a streamlet.
  • * (Charles Cotton) (1630-1687)
    • Rills running down the steepest slopes develop into rivulets .
  • *, chapter=23
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The struggle with ways and means had recommenced, more difficult now a hundredfold than it had been before, because of their increasing needs. Their income disappeared as a little rivulet that is swallowed by the thirsty ground.}}

    tributary

    English

    (wikipedia tributary)

    Noun

    (tributaries)
  • (senseid) A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
  • A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.

    • Quotations

    ; nation paying tribute * 1602 : , act V scene 2 *: As England was his faithful tributary .

    Synonyms

    *(stream which flows into a larger one) affluent

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Related to the paying of tribute.
  • subordinate; inferior
  • * Milton
    • to grace his tributary gods
  • 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.

    Related terms

    * tribute