estuary

• æstuary (archaic)

From Latin aestuarium (“creek”, “estuary of a river”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛstjʊəɹi/, /ˈɛst͡ʃʊəɹi/, /ˈɛst͡ʃəɹi/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛst͡ʃuˌɛɹi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

estuary (plural estuaries)

1. A coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge, resulting in a brackish water zone.
   • 1953 February, H. A. Vallance, “To Brighton through the Shoreham Gap”, in Railway Magazine, page 82:

     The railway then follows the widening estuary of the river, which at high tide has the appearance of a lake, but at low water presents a rather cheerless expanse of dark mud.

   • 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 65:

     There's something special about tidal estuaries, due to the abundance of wildlife and the ever-changing scenes as the water ebbs or rises. Throw in some moody skies and filtered sunlight, and the views can resemble a painting by Turner - only you don't have to go to the National Gallery to see this, it's brought to your seat on a train.

2. An ocean inlet also fed by fresh river water.

• ecotone

• Autreys, Teruyas