ˈrɪvə n. 1 a
copious natural stream of
water flowing in a channel to
the sea or a lake etc. 2 a copious
flow (a river of
lava; rivers of blood). 3 (attrib.) (in the names of animals, plants, etc.)
living in or associated
with the river. øriver blindness a
tropical disease of the
skin caused by a parasitic
worm, the larvae of
which can
migrate into the
eye and cause blindness. river
capture the
diversion of the upper headwaters of a
mountain stream into a
more powerful one.
sell down the river colloq.
betray or let down. øørivered adj. (also in comb.). riverless adj. [ME f. AF river, rivere, OF
riviere river or river-bank ult. f. L riparius f. ripa bank]