A1 noun Neutral

river

/ˈrɪv.ər/

A large natural flow of water that travels across land and into the sea or a lake. It is a moving body of water that usually starts in mountains or hills.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The children like to play by the river in summer.

The children like to play by the river in summer.

2

The proposed development is located adjacent to the river.

The proposed development is located adjacent to the river.

3

Let's go down to the river and hang out.

Let's go down to the river and hang out.

Word Family

Noun
river
Adjective
riverine
Related
riverside
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'R' in River as 'Running water'.

Quick Quiz

The Amazon is the longest ___ in South America.

Correct!

The correct answer is: river

Examples

1

The children like to play by the river in summer.

everyday

The children like to play by the river in summer.

2

The proposed development is located adjacent to the river.

formal

The proposed development is located adjacent to the river.

3

Let's go down to the river and hang out.

informal

Let's go down to the river and hang out.

4

The Nile River was essential for the development of ancient civilizations.

academic

The Nile River was essential for the development of ancient civilizations.

5

The logistics team is investigating transport options across the river.

business

The logistics team is investigating transport options across the river.

Word Family

Noun
river
Adjective
riverine
Related
riverside

Common Collocations

river bank river bank
cross a river cross a river
flow into the river flow into the river
wide river wide river
river water river water

Common Phrases

river bed

river bed

up the river

up the river

mouth of the river

mouth of the river

Often Confused With

river vs lake

A lake is a still body of water surrounded by land, while a river is flowing water.

river vs stream

A stream is generally much smaller and narrower than a river.

📝

Usage Notes

When naming a specific river, use 'the' before the name (e.g., The Thames, The Amazon).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to use 'the' when referring to specific rivers or confuse 'river' with 'sea' which is saltwater.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'R' in River as 'Running water'.

📖

Word Origin

From the Old French word 'riviere', which comes from the Latin 'riparius' meaning 'of a bank'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: one river, two rivers Usually takes the definite article 'the' with names Often followed by the preposition 'into' or 'across'
🌍

Cultural Context

Many of the world's most famous cities, like London and Cairo, were built specifically next to rivers for trade and water.

Quick Quiz

The Amazon is the longest ___ in South America.

Correct!

The correct answer is: river

More nature words

rainforest

A1

A thick forest in a tropical area that receives a large amount of rain throughout the year. It is a dense habitat known for having many different types of plants and animals.

tundra

A1

A large, flat area of land in very cold parts of the world, such as the Arctic. In this area, the ground is frozen and there are no trees, only small plants like moss.

wetland

A1

A wetland is an area of land that is always wet or covered with shallow water. It is a very important place where many different plants and animals, like birds and frogs, live.

coral reef

A1

A coral reef is a large underwater structure made from the skeletons of small sea animals called corals. They are usually found in warm, shallow parts of the ocean and provide a home for many types of fish.

vegetation

A1

Vegetation refers to all the plants and trees that grow in a particular area. It is used to describe the green cover of the earth, like forests or grass.

foliage

A1

Foliage refers to the leaves of a plant or tree, considered as a group. It is often used to describe the overall appearance and mass of greenery in a landscape or forest.

canopy

A1

A canopy is a cover that hangs over something, like a bed or a seat, to provide shade or protection. In nature, it is the top layer of a forest where the branches and leaves of tall trees meet to form a roof.

photosynthesis

A1

Photosynthesis is the natural process that green plants use to make their own food. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and release oxygen into the air.

pollination

A1

Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants make seeds and fruit. This is usually done by insects like bees or by the wind.

seedling

A1

A seedling is a very young plant that has just started to grow from a seed. It usually has a small green stem and its first few tiny leaves.

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