Meta:Glossary

The following is a glossary of terms used throughout the Rivers Wiki, primarily for the purpose of clarifying terminology for editors.

River - A natural or semi-natural watercourse which flows from a source to the sea, another river, or the lowest point in an endorheic basin. Similar terms: watercourse, stream.

Drainage basin - An area which drains water, via a network of rivers, into the sea (or the lowest point in an endorheic basin). Similar terms: catchment, catchment area, river basin, river system, watershed, drainage system, drainage area, basin.

Principal river - A river which flows from its source all the way to the sea (or the lowest point in an endorheic basin) without functioning as a tributary of any other stream. This is typically the largest river or mainstem of a drainage basin, though not exclusively. There can be multiple principal rivers in a single drainage basin if the rivers in question are of comparable size and flow into a single common estuary.