estuary

[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.
Origin of estuary
1530-40; < Latin aestuārium channel, creek, inlet, equivalent to aestu(s) tide + -ārium -ary
Related forms
estuarial
[es-choo-air-ee-uh l] /ˌɛs tʃuˈɛər i əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
Can be confused
delta, estuary.
Examples from the web for estuary
  • The accident occurred near midnight on Wednesday near the estuary of the port channel.
  • As soon as we entered the estuary of the Plata, the weather was very unsettled.
  • The more fresh water is pumped out, the more sea water flows in to the estuary.
  • The spill affected the inner harbor and a nearby estuary.
  • This estuary provides clean water for farms and cities in California.
  • France for example has legislation protecting the seals of the Somme estuary.
  • The swimming pool overlooks the estuary.
  • It was almost cute but still had the lovely sweeping view of the estuary.
  • Here, a bench is positioned to take in the view of a coastal estuary.
  • The primate's skeleton, he said, likely washed into the shallow estuary from the coastline.
British Dictionary definitions for estuary

estuary

/ˈɛstjʊərɪ/
noun (pl) -aries
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
Derived Forms
estuarial (ˌɛstjʊˈɛərɪəl) adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Latin aestuārium marsh, channel, from aestus tide, billowing movement, related to aestās summer
Word Origin and History for estuary
n.

1530s, from Latin aestuarium "a tidal marsh or opening," from aestus "boiling (of the sea), tide, heat," from PIE *aidh- "to burn" (see edifice). Related: Estuaries; estuarine.

estuary in Science
estuary
  (ěs'ch-ěr'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.


estuary in Culture
estuary [(es-chooh-er-ee)]

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