trib ‧ ute /ˈtrɪbjuːt/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: tributum , from tribuere 'to give out to the tribes, pay' , from tribus ; ⇨ ↑ tribe ]
1 . something that you say, do, or give in order to express your respect or admiration for someone:
The players wore black armbands as a tribute to their late teammate.
I’d like to pay tribute to (=praise and admire publicly) the party workers for all their hard work.
2 . be a tribute to somebody/something to be a clear sign of the good qualities that someone or something has:
It was a tribute to her teaching methods that so many children passed the test.
3 . a payment of goods or money by one ruler or country to another more powerful one, especially in order to be protected
4 . floral tribute British English flowers sent to a funeral