1an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration:the video is a tribute to the musicals of the 40s [mass noun]:a symposium organized to pay tribute to Darwin
[in singular] something resulting from a particular quality or feature and indicating its worth:his victory in the championship was a tribute to his persistence
[as modifier] denoting or relating to a group or musician that performs the music of a more famous one and typically imitates them in appearance and style of performance:an Abba tribute banda tribute show
2 [mass noun] historical payment made periodically by one state or ruler to another, especially as a sign of dependence:the king had at his disposal plunder and tribute amassed through warfare
3 historical a proportion of ore or its equivalent, paid to a miner for his work, or to the owner or lessor of a mine.