Illustration of rhea
: any of three South American ratite birds (Rhea americana, R. pennata, and R. tarapacensis of the family Rheidae) that resemble but are smaller than the African ostrich and that have three toes, a fully feathered head and neck, an undeveloped tail, and pale gray to brownish feathers that droop over the rump and back
Examples of rhea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Where visitors can sit quietly, watching species interact with one another, and even see glimpses of certain animals—like pumas, Darwin’s rhea, and colocolo cats—that are more elusive.
—
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2024
Eggshell fragments of rheas have been found at South American archaeological sites dating back to 8,000 years BP.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
What to Do Travelers flock to Patagonia to experience the otherworldly beauty of Torres del Paine National Park and spot Patagonia’s wildlife, including the Big Five: pumas, llama-like guanacos, South Andean deer known as huemul, Andean condors, and the ostrich-like rhea (or ñandú).
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023
The ratites are a group of birds that includes the ostrich and emu, as well as the kiwi, rhea (like a smaller, South American ostrich), and cassowary (with a bright blue face and what looks like a toenail on its head).
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2014
Other animals like condors and rhea are being bred and released back into the landscape.
—Chloe Berge, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2022
The ancestor of all the Pheidole could make supersoldiers, and some of the earliest species to evolve (like Pheidole rhea) kept this ability in its original form.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2012
Ellen has also interrupted Blake’s TikToks to stare curiously at the phone — as has Princess, an affectionate deer, and Regina, a curious rhea.
—Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 16 July 2022
There, near the border with Chile, the 1,722-square-mile park encompasses subantarctic forests that preserve habitats for species such as the guemal, puma, rhea, condor, guanaco, and the calafate plant.
—Melissa Findley, National Geographic, 20 Nov. 2020
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2024
Eggshell fragments of rheas have been found at South American archaeological sites dating back to 8,000 years BP.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
What to Do Travelers flock to Patagonia to experience the otherworldly beauty of Torres del Paine National Park and spot Patagonia’s wildlife, including the Big Five: pumas, llama-like guanacos, South Andean deer known as huemul, Andean condors, and the ostrich-like rhea (or ñandú).
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023
The ratites are a group of birds that includes the ostrich and emu, as well as the kiwi, rhea (like a smaller, South American ostrich), and cassowary (with a bright blue face and what looks like a toenail on its head).
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2014
Other animals like condors and rhea are being bred and released back into the landscape.
—Chloe Berge, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2022
The ancestor of all the Pheidole could make supersoldiers, and some of the earliest species to evolve (like Pheidole rhea) kept this ability in its original form.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2012
Ellen has also interrupted Blake’s TikToks to stare curiously at the phone — as has Princess, an affectionate deer, and Regina, a curious rhea.
—Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 16 July 2022
There, near the border with Chile, the 1,722-square-mile park encompasses subantarctic forests that preserve habitats for species such as the guemal, puma, rhea, condor, guanaco, and the calafate plant.
—Melissa Findley, National Geographic, 20 Nov. 2020
Articles Related to rhea
Dictionary Entries Near rhea
Cite this Entry
“Rhea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhea. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rhea
noun
: either of two large three-toed South American birds that cannot fly and resemble but are smaller than the African ostrich
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share