Illustration of rhea
rhea
noun
ˈrē-ə 
: either of two South American ratite birds (Rhea americana and Pterocnemia pennata 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 The celestial emu, which is found in Aboriginal traditions across Australia, shares nearly identical views and traditions with the Tupi people of Brazil and Bolivia, who see it as a celestial rhea, another large flightless bird. Simon Cropper, Quartz, 21 Aug. 2019 But as with some restaurants in Buenos Aires are giving choripán a makeover, like Los Infernales, with chorizo made from the tiny ostrich-ish rhea, and Chori, dedicated to modern takes on the sandwich. Luke Darby, GQ, 29 July 2017 Emus are a stately five to six feet (one to two meters) long, and cassowaries and greater rheas aren’t far behind. Liz Langley, National Geographic, 3 Sep. 2016 Today’s ostriches, rheas, and cassowaries are not substitutes for the terror birds, just as the fact that birds are living dinosaurs provides little solace for those who have the impossible wish of seeing a living Tyrannosaurus or Allosaurus. Brian Switek, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2011 See More
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 The celestial emu, which is found in Aboriginal traditions across Australia, shares nearly identical views and traditions with the Tupi people of Brazil and Bolivia, who see it as a celestial rhea, another large flightless bird. Simon Cropper, Quartz, 21 Aug. 2019 But as with some restaurants in Buenos Aires are giving choripán a makeover, like Los Infernales, with chorizo made from the tiny ostrich-ish rhea, and Chori, dedicated to modern takes on the sandwich. Luke Darby, GQ, 29 July 2017 Emus are a stately five to six feet (one to two meters) long, and cassowaries and greater rheas aren’t far behind. Liz Langley, National Geographic, 3 Sep. 2016 Today’s ostriches, rheas, and cassowaries are not substitutes for the terror birds, just as the fact that birds are living dinosaurs provides little solace for those who have the impossible wish of seeing a living Tyrannosaurus or Allosaurus. Brian Switek, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2011 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus of birds, probably from Latin Rhea, mother of Zeus, from Greek
First Known Use
1797, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
rhea
noun
ˈrē-ə
: a tall flightless South American bird that resembles but is smaller than the ostrich