River

n. [Fr. rivière, a river, O. Fr. rivière, a bank, shore, or rather a country on the banks of a river, It. rivièra, a bank or shore, a river, Sp. ribera, Pg. & Pr. ribèira, bank of a river, sea-shore, from Lat. riparius, belonging to a bank or shore, from ripa, a bank or shore.]

1. A large stream of water flowing in a channel on land toward the ocean, a lake, or another river; a stream larger than a rivulet or brook. “Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is delightful to drink as they flow.” Macaulay.
2. A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers of blood; rivers of oil.

☞ River is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, river-bank, river-bed, river-channel, river-course, river-craft, river-steamer, river-water, and the like.