| 释义 |
distributary, a. and n.|dɪˈstrɪbjuːtərɪ|
[f. L. ppl. stem distribūt- (see distribute v.) + -ary.]
A. adj.
†1. Distinct, several. Obs.
1541R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg., For howe many distributary intencyons were they created?
2. Distributive; ‘that distributes, or is distributed’ (Worcester). spec. in distributary canal, distributary channel, distributary river.
1846Worcester cites Williams. 1926Spectator 24 Apr. 756/2 To excavate additional distributary canals and field channels. 1954W. D. Thornbury Princ. Geomorphol. xxii. 584 Shoestring sands may be..river channel fillings, delta distributary channel fillings, [etc.].
B. n.
a. Something whose function is to distribute; applied to branch canals distributing water from a main one. (Cf. tributary.)
1886J. T. Wheeler India under Brit. Rule 175 The Ganges canal..runs along the Doab..throwing out distributaries at intervals. 1891Cornh. Mag. May 553 The great canal, of which the small channel..was a distributary.
b. A river branch which flows away from the main stream without returning to it, as in a delta; a similar branch of a glacier.
1863J. Fergusson in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. XIX. 328 One consequence of any such alteration in the course of the main stream is, that the initial or terminal oscillation of any tributary or distributary is continually altering its position. 1881Times 16 Aug. 3/6 [A river's] breaking up into distributaries as it approaches the sea. 1954W. D. Thornbury Princ. Geomorphol. vii. 173 A river crosses its delta through a number of channels known variously as distributaries, mouths, or passes. 1957G. E. Hutchinson Treat. Limnol. I. i. 76 The possibility that the glacier that filled the basin had a western distributary which cut the present outlet. |