tributary

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Making additions or yielding supplies; contributory.
2. adj. Paid in tribute.
3. adj. Paying tribute: a tributary colony.
4. n. A stream that flows into a larger stream or other body of water.
5. n. A ruler or nation that pays tribute.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Paying tribute; taxed or assessed by tribute.
2. Of the nature of tribute; paid or due as tribute.
3. Bringing accretions, supplies, aid, or the like; contributory; auxiliary; subsidiary; specifically, of streams, affluent.
4. n. A person or a state that pays tribute; one who or that which pays a stated sum to a conquering power, in acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of peace, security, and protection.
5. n. In geography, an affluent; a river or other body of water which contributes its stream to another river, etc.

Wiktionary

1. n. A river that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
2. n. A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.
3. adj. Related to the paying of tribute.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Paying tribute to another, either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace.
2. adj. Hence, subject; subordinate; inferior.
3. adj. Paid in tribute.
4. adj. Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing.
5. n. A ruler or state that pays tribute, or a stated sum, to a conquering power, for the purpose of securing peace and protection, or as an acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of security.
6. n. A stream or river flowing into a larger river or into a lake; an affluent.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. paying tribute
2. n. a branch that flows into the main stream
3. adj. (of a stream) flowing into a larger stream
4. adj. tending to bring about; being partly responsible for