I.a small brook, a rill, rivulet.
II. Trop. (only in Cic., who, on the other hand, uses rivus in the lit. sense): “influxit non tenuis quidam e Graeciā rivulus in hanc urbem, sed abundantissimus amnis illarum disciplinarum et artium,” Cic. Rep. 2, 19, 34: “rivulos consectari, fontes rerum non videre,” id. de Or. 2, 27, 117; so (opp. fontes) id. Ac. 1, 2, 8; id. Cael. 8, 19 (but the correct read. is ramuli, Cels. 7, 4, 1).