headstream

7.9

A small stream that forms the start of a river

noun
/ˈhɛdˌstrim/

: nacimiento

The Nile's primary headstream rises in the highlands of East Africa.

Examples

Glacial meltwater can give rise to a headstream that eventually feeds into a larger river system.
The headstream flows gently down the mountain.
The expedition traced the Amazon to its most distant headstream in the mountains.
Many hikers follow the headstream to its source.
The river begins at a small headstream high in the mountains.
Birds often gather near the headstream where the water flows fresh and clear.
Explorers searched for the headstream of the Amazon to uncover its origins.

Synonyms

headwater

vsheadstream

Specialized

6 7.2

The source or small streams at the start of a river

is one stream that directly creates the river source

fountainhead

vsheadstream

2 8.0

The spring where a river or stream begins

is a small stream that itself serves as that origin

riverhead

vsheadstream

1 5.6

The place where a river begins, often in the hills

is a flowing channel that itself forms the river origin

headwaters

vsheadstream

Specialized

1 5.5

The place where a river or stream begins

is the single stream that directly forms the river start

headspring

vsheadstream

Archaic

7.8

The place where a stream or river starts

is a small flowing channel rather than the spring source

How Big

river

∞ 1.0

stream

150 1.0

headstream

7.9

brook

23 1.0

rill

3 8.6

Surface Forms

headstream singular

headstreams plural

Morphology

headstream = head + stream (transparent) = head + stream

The compound combines 'head' (source/top) and 'stream' (small river) to denote the source stream; the meaning is directly predictable from its components.

Etymology

The word headstream combines head, meaning 'top' or 'beginning', and stream, meaning 'small river'. So a headstream is the little river at the 'head' of a larger river — the place where the river begins.