anabranch

A river's anabranch flows around a small, wooded island before rejoining the main channel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stream that separates from a river and rejoins it downstream: "anabranch" refers to a branch of a river that diverges from the main channel and flows back into it at a later point, forming a loop or island.
   • A water channel: In hydrology, it describes a secondary channel that reconnects with the main river, often found in floodplains or deltas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The river formed an anabranch that created a large island in the middle of the stream. (A branch that split off and rejoined the river.)
  • Scientists studied the anabranch to understand water flow during the flood season. (The secondary channel was examined for its hydrological behavior.)

Advanced Usage

• "to become an anabranch": for a river to develop a looping secondary channel.

  • Over centuries, the river's course shifted, and a new anabranch emerged. (The river naturally created a branch that loops back.)

• "anabranch system": a network of such branching and rejoining channels.

  • The Amazon delta has an extensive anabranch system. (Many secondary channels exist in that region.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anabranching (adj): describing a river or system that has anabranches.

  • The anabranching river created a complex floodplain. (The river with multiple branching channels shaped the land.)

• Anabranching river (n): a river that frequently divides into anabranches.

  • The Brahmaputra is a classic example of an anabranching river. (It often splits and rejoins.)

Synonyms

• Distributary: a branch of a river that flows away from the main channel and does not rejoin it (opposite of anabranch).
• Side channel: a secondary watercourse that may or may not rejoin the main river.

Phrasal Verbs (not applicable)

• "Anabranch" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms (not applicable)

• No common idioms exist using "anabranch."