influent

[in-floo-uhnt]

adjective

1. flowing in.

noun

1. a tributary.

2. Ecology.,  a plant or animal that has an important effect on the biotic balance in a community.

influent

/ ˈɪnflʊənt /

adjective

1. flowing in

noun

1. something flowing in, esp a tributary

2. ecology an organism that has a major effect on the nature of its community

Word History and Origins

Origin of influent¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin influent- (stem of influēns ) inflowing. See in- ², fluent

Example Sentences

The new study is unusual in that it calculated the mass of microplastics in landfill leachate and wastewater influent and effluent.

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The facility also has most of its influent pumps running again, after Tropical Storm Hilary broke five of six.

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“We looked at the entire treatment process, which included the influent and effluent,” he said.

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Funding includes $100,000 for Marquette County to replace influent pumps at a wastewater treatment facility.

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The latter system is intact, but it is offline to protect microorganisms from ingesting influent too dirty for them from the damaged primary-treatment system.

Read more on Seattle Times