estuary

American  

[es-choo-er-ee] / ˈɛs tʃuˌɛr i /

noun

PLURAL

estuaries

1. that part of the mouth or lower course of a river in which the river's current meets the sea's tide.

2. an arm or inlet of the sea at the lower end of a river.

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estuary British  

/ ˌɛstjʊˈɛərɪəl, ˈɛstjʊərɪ /

noun

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

2. an inlet of the sea

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estuary Scientific  

/ ĕs′cho̅o̅-ĕr′ē /

1. 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.

2. An arm of the sea that extends inland to meet the mouth of a river.

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estuary Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• estuarial adjective

Etymology

Origin of estuary

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin aestuārium “channel, creek, inlet,” from aestu(s) “fire, heat, tide” + -ārium -ary

Example Sentences

Thousands more are being housed in cruise ships that have been moored in the estuary.

From The Wall Street Journal

They are also found around river mouths, estuaries and manmade structures like piers and groynes.

From BBC

It is a position some say creates a conflict for a politician who represents much of the so-called Humber "energy estuary" with its growing links to the offshore wind industry.

From BBC

Environmental and fishing groups, as well as leaders in Delta communities, have argued that the voluntary approach would harm the estuary’s deteriorating ecosystem and fish species that have suffered dramatic declines.

From Los Angeles Times

They include programmes that track chemical pollution in rivers, lakes and estuaries as well as one that monitors the regulator's plans for dealing with drought.

From BBC

Related Words

• inlet
• waterway