influent

[ in-floo-uhnt ]

adjective

1. flowing in.

noun

1. a tributary.
2. Ecology. a plant or animal that has an important effect on the biotic balance in a community.

influent

/ ˈɪnflʊənt /

adjective

1. flowing in

noun

1. something flowing in, esp a tributary
2. ecology an organism that has a major effect on the nature of its community

Word History and Origins

Origin of influent¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin influent- (stem of influēns ) inflowing. See in- ², fluent

Example Sentences

The meeting point of these two natures is the mind, the causal nature being influent and the apparent nature being effluent.

From Project Gutenberg

We had thus examined each of its three mouths, and settled all doubts as to the Rusizi being an effluent or influent.

From Project Gutenberg