What does "tribute" mean?

1. (an act of respect) something you say, do, or give to show how much you respect or admire someone. 2. (historical payment) money or goods that one country or ruler was forced to pay to another for protection or peace. 3. (mining payment) a share of the ore or money given to a miner as their pay. 4. (to pay as a gift) to give something as a sign of respect or as a required payment.

How do you use "tribute"?

Often used with the preposition 'to'.

tribute

n. · v.

US //ˈtɹɪbjut// UK //tɹˈɪbjuːt// trib·ute

1 an act of respect (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

something you say, do, or give to show how much you respect or admire someone.

an acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration, often taking the form of a public statement or a commemorative gift.

Example

The concert was a moving tribute to the singer who died last year.

Example

The retired professor received a heartfelt tribute from her former students, who credited her mentorship with their professional success.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'to'.
- insult
- criticism
2 historical payment (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

money or goods that one country or ruler was forced to pay to another for protection or peace.

a wealth payment made by one party to another as a sign of submission or price of protection, common in feudal or imperial contexts.

Example

In ancient times, smaller kingdoms paid tribute to the empire to avoid being attacked.

Example

The historical records detail the exact amount of gold and grain paid in annual tribute by the vassal states to the central authority.

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3 mining payment (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

a share of the ore or money given to a miner as their pay.

a proportion of the mined ore, or its equivalent value, given to a miner as a form of piecework payment.

Example

The miners worked for a tribute, meaning they only got paid if they found good minerals.

Example

Under the tribute system, the Cornish miners' earnings fluctuated wildly based on the quality of the lode they were currently excavating.
- royalty
- share
4 to pay as a gift (v.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic

to give something as a sign of respect or as a required payment.

to pay or contribute something as a formal tribute. Transitive use is rare in modern prose.

Example

The local lords would tribute a portion of their harvest to the king.

Example

The ancient texts describe how the conquered tribes were forced to tribute their finest horses to the victors every spring.
- render
- pay

Origin

PIE word *tréyes From Middle English tribut (14th c.), from Middle French tribut, from Latin tributum (“tribute”, literally “a thing contributed or paid”), past participle of tribuere (“to assign, allot”), usually derived from tribus (“tribe”, which see).