estuary

[ es-choo-er-ee ]
/ ˈɛs tʃuˌɛr i /

noun, plural es·tu·ar·ies.

that part of the mouth or lower course of a river in which the river's current meets the sea's tide.
an arm or inlet of the sea at the lower end of a river.

Origin of estuary

1530–40; < Latin aestuārium channel, creek, inlet, equivalent to aestu(s) tide + -ārium -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM estuary

es·tu·ar·i·al [es-choo-air-ee-uh l] /ˌɛs tʃuˈɛər i əl/, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH estuary

delta estuary

Words nearby estuary

estrone, estrous, estrous cycle, estrus, estuarine, estuary, estuary english, esu, esurient, et, et al.

Example sentences from the Web for estuarial

  • The bulk of estuarial silt comes down the main river from the upper Basin.

    The Nation's River |United States Department of the Interior

British Dictionary definitions for estuarial

estuary
/ (ˈɛstjʊərɪ) /

noun plural -aries

the widening channel of a river where it nears the sea, with a mixing of fresh water and salt (tidal) water
an inlet of the sea

Derived forms of estuary

estuarial (ˌɛstjʊˈɛərɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for estuary

C16: from Latin aestuārium marsh, channel, from aestus tide, billowing movement, related to aestās summer

Scientific definitions for estuarial

estuary
[ ĕs′chōō-ĕr′ē ]

The wide lower course of a river where it flows into the sea. Estuaries experience tidal flows and their water is a changing mixture of fresh and salt.
An arm of the sea that extends inland to meet the mouth of a river.

Cultural definitions for estuarial

estuary
[ (es-chooh-er-ee) ]

A wide body of water formed where a large river meets the sea. It contains both fresh and salt water.