rhea

[ ree-uh ]

/ ˈri ə /

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noun

the ramie plant or fiber.

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Origin of rhea

First recorded in 1850–55, rhea is from the Assamese word rihā

Words nearby rhea

r.h.b., rhd, Rh disease, rhDNase, rhe, rhea, Rhea Silvia, rhebok, rheda, Rhee, rhegma

Other definitions for rhea (2 of 3)

Rhea

[ ree-uh ]

/ ˈri ə /

noun

Classical Mythology. a Titan, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the wife and sister of Cronus, and the mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia: identified with Cybele and, by the Romans, with Ops.

Astronomy. one of the moons of Saturn.

(lowercase) either of two South American, ratite birds, Rhea americana or Pterocnemia pennata, resembling the African ostrich but smaller and having three toes.

a female given name.

Origin of Rhea

First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin Rhea, from Greek Rhéa; further origin uncertain

Other definitions for rhea (3 of 3)

-rhea

variant of -rrhea.

Compare rheo-.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use rhea in a sentence

After each of these babies had dropped from Rhea’s womb and onto Gaia’s knees, Cronos grabbed them and swallowed them.
Gaia, the Scientist - Issue 99: Universality|Hope Jahren|April 7, 2021|Nautilus
Gaia then turned her attention to her daughter Rhea, who needed her help badly, in the form of protection from Gaia’s son, Cronos.
Gaia, the Scientist - Issue 99: Universality|Hope Jahren|April 7, 2021|Nautilus
He's been with the model Rhea Durham since 2001, and the two were married in 2009.
Mark Wahlberg's Oscar Pitch|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of a lady named Rhea Sylvia.
A Week of Instruction and Amusement,|Mrs. Harley

Cronus, the head of the dynasty which preceded that of Zeus, is described as the son of Rhea, but nothing is said of his father.
Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1|Andrew Lang
Spartan Rhea was from Missouri, and belonged to a family intensely Southern in their convictions.
Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler|Pardee Butler
He chose his sister Rhea (Cybele) for his wife, and gave his brothers and sisters different parts of the universe to govern.
Stories of Old Greece and Rome|Emilie Kip Baker
One child after another was thus disposed of; and349 at last Rhea resolved to save her youngest son by stratagem.
Stories of Old Greece and Rome|Emilie Kip Baker

British Dictionary definitions for rhea (1 of 3)

rhea

/ (ˈrɪə) /

noun

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 bodySee ratite

Word Origin for rhea

C19: New Latin; arbitrarily named after Rhea 1

British Dictionary definitions for rhea (2 of 3)

Rhea¹

/ (ˈrɪə) /

noun

Greek myth a Titaness, wife of Cronus and mother of several of the gods, including Zeus: a fertility goddessRoman counterpart: Ops

British Dictionary definitions for rhea (3 of 3)

Rhea²

/ (ˈrɪə) /

noun

the second largest satellite of the planet Saturn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012