Anabranch refers to a branch of a river or a stream that diverges from the main channel and then rejoins later on. It is a unique feature of many river systems and is often characterized by shallow, sluggish water flow. Synonyms for anabranch include tributary, distributary, and offshoot. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one, while a distributary is a branch of a river that flows away from the main channel and eventually empties into another body of water. An offshoot, on the other hand, is simply a branch or side stream that diverges from the main body of a river. All of these terms are useful for describing the complex networks of waterways that make up our planet's river systems.