influent

[in-floo-uh nt]

adjective

flowing in.

noun

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

Origin of influent

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for influent

Historical Examples of influent

We had thus examined each of its three mouths, and settled all doubts as to the Rusizi being an effluent or influent.
How I Found Livingstone
Henry M. Stanley

British Dictionary definitions for influent

influent

adjective Also: inflowing

flowing in

noun

something flowing in, esp a tributary
ecology an organism that has a major effect on the nature of its community

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for influent

adj.

mid-15c., "abundant," in reference to occult power of the stars, etc., also of grace, from Latin influentem (nominative influens), present participle of influere "to flow in" (see influence).