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riv·er

(rĭvər)

1. Abbr. R. A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.

2. A stream or abundant flow: a river of tears.

3. The fifth and last of the community cards in various poker games, especially Texas hold'em.

tr.v. riv·ered, riv·er·ing, riv·ers

To win a hand in poker by beating (someone) on the basis of the last community card that is turned up.

Idiom:

up the river Slang

In or into prison.

[Middle English rivere, from Anglo-Norman, from Vulgar Latin *rīpāria, from Latin, feminine of rīpārius, of a bank, from rīpa, bank.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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