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Watershed vs Tributary - What's the difference?

watershed | tributary |

As nouns the difference between watershed and tributary

is that watershed is the topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest 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.

watershed

English

Noun

(wikipedia watershed) (en noun)
  • (hydrology) The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.
  • (US) A region of land within which water flows down into a specified body, such as a river, lake, sea, or ocean; a drainage basin.
  • A critical point marking a change in course or development.
  • (Canada, British) The time after which material of more adult nature (violence, swear words, sex) may be broadcast on television or radio, either one laid down or one contrived (e.g. when children are not watching...)

    • Synonyms

    * (boundary between two adjacent catchment basins) water parting, drainage divide, water divide, divide * (drainage basin) catchment basin, catchment, catchment area, drainage area, river basin, water basin * (time after which adult material may be broadcast) safe harbor (US) * (critical point marking a change in course or development) turning point

    Derived terms

    * postwatershed * prewatershed * watershedding

    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