The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SWALE
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More clues leading to the result SWALE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "River" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case river = swale.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SWALE mean?
SWALE noun- A low tract of moist or marshy land.
- A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline.
- A shallow troughlike depression that's created to carry water during rainstorms or snow melts; a drainage ditch.
- A shallow, usually grassy depression sloping downward from a plains upland meadow or level vegetated ridgetop.
- A shallow trough dug into the land on contour (horizontally with no slope), whose purpose is to allow water time to percolate into the soil.
- A gutter in a candle.
- To burn slowly.
- To melt and run down, as the tallow of a candle; waste away without feeding the flame.
- To singe; scorch; dress (as a hog) with burning or singeing.
- To consume with fire; burn.
- To make disappear; cause to waste away; diminish; reduce.