出典:Wiktionary
出典:『Wiktionary』 (2025/12/07 23:05 UTC 版)
From distribute + -ary.
distributary (comparative more distributary, superlative most distributary)
distributary (plural distributaries)
出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/05/16 23:26 UTC 版)
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary. Distributaries usually occur as a stream nears a lake or the ocean, but they can occur inland as well, such as in an endorheic basin, or when a tributary stream bifurcates as it nears its confluence with a larger stream. In some cases, a minor distributary can "steal" so much water from the main channel that it can become the main route.