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river1 definition

river (riv′ər)

noun

  1. a natural stream of water larger than a creek and emptying into an ocean, a lake, or another river
  2. any similar or plentiful stream or flow a river of lava

Etymology: ME rivere < OFr riviere < VL riparia < L riparius: see riparian

Related Forms:

river Idioms

sell down the river

☆

Etymology: from the former selling of slaves to plantations on the lower Mississippi

to betray, deceive, abuse, etc.

up the river

☆

Etymology: from the sending of convicts up the Hudson River from New York to Sing Sing

Slang
to or confined in a penitentiary
river2 definition

river (rī′vər)

noun

a person or thing that rives

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms river idiom

river Synonyms

river

n.

  1. Flowing water

    stream, flow, course, current, tributary, branch, estuary, rivulet, river system, creek, brook, watercourse, waterway.

    Famous rivers include: Seine, Rhône, Loire, Thames, Severn, Avon, Clyde, Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Don, Volga, Yenisei, Dnieper, Vistula, Nile, Euphrates, Mekong, Tigris, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Yellow, Yangste-Kiang, Niger, Congo, Zambesi, St. Lawrence, Saskatchewan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Platte, Delaware, Connecticut, Mohawk, Columbia, Gila, Colorado, Snake, Hudson, Rio Grande, Yukon, Amazon, Orinoco, La Plata, Murray.

  2. Anything likened to a river, sense 1

    wave, swell, outpouring; see flood 1, plenty.

sell down the river*

betray, cheat, desert; see betray 1, deceive.

up the river*

imprisoned, jailed, in jail; see confined 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

river Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • overlook: The original Winding Department was upstairs in the cottages overlooking the river.

Adjective modifier

  • navigable: Even given the locality's proximity to navigable rivers, the area is still fairly hilly.

Modifies a noun

  • valley: The Great East Barn lies in a tranquil little river valley, almost in a world of its own.

Noun used with modifier

  • Yangtze: Crummy and cold flotilla's departure uprivergalena illinois the yangtze river.
river usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

river quotes

You can't argue with a river, it isgoing to flow.You can dam it up†put it to useful purposes†deflect it, but you can't argue with it.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

The Knight in the triumph of his heart made several 6 reflections on thegreatness of the British Nation; as, that one Englishman could beat three Frenchmen; that we could never be in danger of Popery so long as we took care of our fleet; that theThames was thenoblest river in Europe; that London Bridge was a greater piece of work than any of the Seven Wonders of the World; with many other honest prejudices which naturally cleave to the heart of a true Englishman.

-Addison,Joseph

But the majestic river floated on, Out of the mist and hum of that low land, Into the frosty starlight.

-Arnold, Matthew

river quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"river." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/river>

APA Style

river. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/river

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