either of two large fast-running flightless birds, Rhea americana or Pterocnemia pennata, inhabiting the open plains of S South America: order Rheiformes. They are similar to but smaller than the ostrich, having three-toed feet and a completely feathered body
Also called: nandoo, nandu. ratite
Word origin
C19: New Latin; arbitrarily named after Rhea1
Rhea in British English1
(ˈrɪə)
noun
Greek mythology
a Titaness, wife of Cronus and mother of several of the gods, including Zeus: a fertility goddess
Roman counterpart: Ops
Rhea in British English2
(ˈrɪə)
noun
the second largest satellite of the planet Saturn, discovered by Cassini in 1672; diameter 1530 km
Rhea in American English
(ˈriə)
noun
1. Greek Mythology
daughter of Uranus and Gaea, wife of Cronus, and mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hera, and Hestia: identified with the Roman Ops and the Phrygian Cybele
2.
a large satellite of Saturn
3. [r-]
any of an order (Rheiformes) of large, South American, flightless birds, smallerthan an ostrich, having three toes and a feathered head and neck
Word origin
L < Gr
-rhea in American English
(ˈriə)
-rrhea
Examples of 'rhea' in a sentence
rhea
Bingo, Rhea 's reading about a company called Bayside Consulting.