The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Confluent \Con"flu*ent\, n.
   1. A small steam which flows into a large one.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The place of meeting of steams, currents, etc. [Obs.]
      --Holland.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Confluent \Con"flu*ent\, a. [L. confluens, -entis, p. pr. of
   confluere, -fluxum; con- + fluere to flow. See Fluent.]
   1. Flowing together; meeting in their course; running one
      into another; flowing together to form a single stream.

   Syn: merging(prenominal).
        [1913 Webster]

              These confluent steams make some great river's
              head.                               --Blackmore.
        [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to
      obliterate all distinction.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Med.)
      (a) Running together or uniting, as pimples or pustules.
      (b) Characterized by having the pustules, etc., run
          together or unite, so as to cover the surface; as,
          confluent smallpox. --Dunglison.
          [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

confluent
    adj 1: flowing together [syn: confluent, merging(a)]
    n 1: a branch that flows into the main stream [syn: feeder,
         tributary, confluent, affluent] [ant: distributary]