estuary

noun

es·​tu·​ary ˈes-chə-ˌwer-ē 

ˈesh-

plural estuaries

: a water passage where the tide meets a river current

especially : an arm of the sea at the lower end of a river

Did you know?

A partly enclosed coastal body of water in which river water is mixed with seawater is called an estuary. An estuary is thus defined by salinity rather than geography. Many coastal features designated by other names are in fact estuaries (for instance, Chesapeake Bay). Some of the oldest continuous civilizations have flourished in estuarine environments (for example, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Nile delta, and the Ganges delta). Cities such as London (Thames River), New York (Hudson River), and Montreal (St. Lawrence River) developed on estuaries and became important commercial centers.

Synonyms

• arm
• bay
• bight
• cove
• creek [chiefly British]
• embayment
• firth
• fjord
• fiord
• gulf
• inlet
• loch [Scottish]

Examples of estuary in a Sentence

the city sits on the shores of a deep estuary where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement Opponents of the tunnel project have argued the state should instead invest in other approaches in the delta, such as shoring up levees and restoring natural floodplains to reduce flood risks, while changing water management to protect the estuary’s health. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024

Advertisement The trails at the estuary are mostly flat and easy to navigate — ideal for hikers who want to meander slowly and watch the wildlife. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin aestuarium, from aestus boiling, tide; akin to Latin aestas summer — more at edify

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

estuary

noun

es·​tu·​ary ˈes-chə-ˌwer-ē 

plural estuaries

: a passage where the tide meets a river current

especially : an arm of the sea at the lower end of a river

estuarine

ˈes-chə-wə-ˌrīn

adjective