rhea Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun fertility goddess in ancient Greek mythology; wife of Cronus and mother of Zeus; identified with Roman Ops and Cybele of ancient Asia Minor
  2. noun smaller of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Peru to Strait of Magellan
    Pterocnemia pennata; nandu.
  3. noun larger of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Brazil to Patagonia
    Rhea americana.

WordNet

Rhe"a noun
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The ramie or grass-cloth plant. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.
Rhe"a noun
Etymology
L., a proper name.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any one of three species of large South American ostrichlike birds of the genera Rhea and Pterocnemia. Called also the American ostrich. ✍ The common rhea, or nandou (Rhea Americana), ranges from Brazil to Patagonia. Darwin's rhea (Pterocnemia Darwinii), of Patagonia, is smaller, and has the legs feathered below the knee.

Webster 1913