riverriver /ˈrɪvɚ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 1
earth science, geography a natural and continuous flow of water in a long line across a country into an ocean, lake, etc.: The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon. We went down the river in a canoe (=in the direction the river flows). The Statue of Liberty stands at the mouth of the Hudson River (=where it flows into the ocean).in a river The kids were swimming in the river.on a river Let’s take the boat out on the river.2a large amount of moving liquid: river of A river of mud flowed down the hill. [Origin: 1200–1300 Old French rivere, from Latin riparius of a river bank] → see also sell somebody down the river at sell1 (11)COLLOCATIONSverbsa river flows The river flows through a wide valley.a river runs (=it flows in a particular direction) They built the fort near where the river runs into the ocean.a river winds (=it turns and curves, rather than going in a straight line) He could see the river winding across the plain.a river floods There are fears that the river could flood.a river dries up The river completely dries up during the hot summer months.a river narrows (=it becomes narrower) The river narrows at this point.cross a river We crossed the river by ferry.ford a river (=cross a river on foot, in a vehicle, or on a horse, without using a bridge) The water was shallow enough for us to be able to ford the river.navigate a river (=travel along a river) The narrow cliffs once made the river dangerous to navigate.adjectivesa wide/broad river The Mississippi is a very wide river.a long river The Nile is the longest river in the world.a frozen river (=covered with ice) They skated across the frozen river.a polluted river Over the years, the river has become more polluted.a river is swollen/high (=containing more water than usual) After the rains, the river was swollen.a raging/fast-flowing river The child was swept away by the raging river.a mighty river (=very big and impressive) They took a six-week trip along China’s mighty Yangtze River.a river is navigable (=people are able to travel along it in a boat) The river is navigable in the summer months.river + nounsa river bank (=the side of a river) The path runs along the river bank.a river bed (=the bottom of a river) They walked along a dry river bed.a river valley (=a valley with a river or formed by a river) They came to a wide river valley.a river basin (=an area from which all the water flows into the same river) The Mississippi River Basin covers more than 40% of the U.S.
earth science, geography a natural and continuous flow of water in a long line across a country into an ocean, lake, etc.: The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon. We went down the river in a canoe (=in the direction the river flows). The Statue of Liberty stands at the mouth of the Hudson River (=where it flows into the ocean).in a river The kids were swimming in the river.on a river Let’s take the boat out on the river.2a large amount of moving liquid: river of A river of mud flowed down the hill. [Origin: 1200–1300 Old French rivere, from Latin riparius of a river bank] → see also sell somebody down the river at sell1 (11)COLLOCATIONSverbsa river flows The river flows through a wide valley.a river runs (=it flows in a particular direction) They built the fort near where the river runs into the ocean.a river winds (=it turns and curves, rather than going in a straight line) He could see the river winding across the plain.a river floods There are fears that the river could flood.a river dries up The river completely dries up during the hot summer months.a river narrows (=it becomes narrower) The river narrows at this point.cross a river We crossed the river by ferry.ford a river (=cross a river on foot, in a vehicle, or on a horse, without using a bridge) The water was shallow enough for us to be able to ford the river.navigate a river (=travel along a river) The narrow cliffs once made the river dangerous to navigate.adjectivesa wide/broad river The Mississippi is a very wide river.a long river The Nile is the longest river in the world.a frozen river (=covered with ice) They skated across the frozen river.a polluted river Over the years, the river has become more polluted.a river is swollen/high (=containing more water than usual) After the rains, the river was swollen.a raging/fast-flowing river The child was swept away by the raging river.a mighty river (=very big and impressive) They took a six-week trip along China’s mighty Yangtze River.a river is navigable (=people are able to travel along it in a boat) The river is navigable in the summer months.river + nounsa river bank (=the side of a river) The path runs along the river bank.a river bed (=the bottom of a river) They walked along a dry river bed.a river valley (=a valley with a river or formed by a river) They came to a wide river valley.a river basin (=an area from which all the water flows into the same river) The Mississippi River Basin covers more than 40% of the U.S.