Word
estuary
Phoneticses·tu·ary
US/ˈɛstʃuˌɛɹi/
UK/ˈɛstjuːəɹˌi/
Definition
n. the wide part of a river where it meets the sea. Here, the fresh water from the river mixes with the salty water from the ocean.
n. the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream. Characterised by brackish water and significant sediment deposition.
Examples
“Many birds live in the muddy estuary.”
“The city was built on the estuary to allow large ships to travel from the ocean into the heart of the country.”
“Ecologists are concerned that rising sea levels will alter the delicate salinity of the estuary, potentially destroying the breeding grounds of several local fish species.”
Examples
simple
“Many birds live in the muddy estuary.”
contextual
“The city was built on the estuary to allow large ships to travel from the ocean into the heart of the country.”
complex
“Ecologists are concerned that rising sea levels will alter the delicate salinity of the estuary, potentially destroying the breeding grounds of several local fish species.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'Estuary English' to describe a specific accent from the Thames area.
Real-World Examples
“It is thought there are about 3,500 seals living in the Thames and that they mostly stay around the estuary, east of London.” “Around river mouths, the distance extends to 500 meters from the estuary.” Etymology
From Latin aestuarium (“creek”, “estuary of a river”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/estuary