noun
confluence
KAHN-floo-uhns/ˈkɑːnfluəns/
The meeting and joining of flowing streams.
The two rivers form a confluence just beyond the bridge.
Etymology
“Flowing together” originally described the meeting of streams. That concrete image also captures the broader sense of separate things coming together at a common point.
In context
The confluence is where the stunning turquoise blue Havasu Creek blends into the sometimes muddy Colorado River.
More examples
- We paddle downstream to the confluence of the two creeks.
- Sediment collects at the confluence after heavy rain.
- The map marks several confluences along the river.
Forms
confluence · confluences
Similar words
- junction
- Names any joining point, not specifically one involving rivers.
- convergence
- Emphasizes movement toward one point without necessarily joining.