tributary

US /ˈtrɪb.jə.ter.i/
UK /ˈtrɪb.jə.ter.i/
"tributary" picture
1.

a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake

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The Amazon River has many large tributaries.
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This small stream is a tributary of the main river.
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affluentbranchfeederforkoffshoot
1.

paying tribute to another state or ruler

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The smaller kingdom became tributary to the powerful empire.
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The conquered people were forced to pay tributary taxes.
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subordinatevassaldependentsubject