Words / B2

TRIB-yoot/ˈtrɪbjuːt/

A tribute is something done or said to show respect, or a payment to a stronger power: pay tribute; a tribute act. Tribe is a people (previous); contribution is money or help towards a shared cost. The obituary paid tribute to the campaigner. Mix-up: tribute vs tributary (a river branch); tribe. Do not write tribute for a tax you owe HMRC.

Meaning

Something done or said to show respect; also a historic payment to a stronger power.

Examples

• “The obituary paid tribute to the campaigner, the source said.”
• “Tribute paid to the empire featured in the history paper, which is the forced-payment sense.”

Good to know

pay tribute to; a tribute to + person; a tribute act. River: tributary. Trap: tribe / tax. News, history, and literature. Respect, or a historic payment to a ruler — specify.

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