estuary UK /ˈɛstjʊəɹi/US /ˈɛst͡ʃuˌɛɹi/ noun2 •A coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge, resulting in a brackish water zone.The railway then follows the widening estuary of the river, which at high tide has the appearance of a lake, but at low water presents a rather cheerless expanse of dark mud. — 1953 •An ocean inlet also fed by fresh river water. formsestuaries