ratite

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrætaɪt/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(rat′īt)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
rat•ite  (rat′īt),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. having a flat, unkeeled sternum, as an ostrich, cassowary, emu, or moa.

n. 
  1. a bird having a ratite breastbone.
  • Latin rat(is) raft + -ite2
  • 1875–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ratite / ˈrætaɪt/
  1. (of flightless birds) having a breastbone that lacks a keel for the attachment of flight muscles
  2. of or denoting the flightless birds, formerly classified as a group (the Ratitae), that have a flat breastbone, feathers lacking vanes, and reduced wings
  1. a bird, such as an ostrich, kiwi, or rhea, that belongs to this group; a flightless bird
Etymology: 19th Century: from Latin ratis raft
'ratite' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Aepyornis - cassowary - dodo - emu - flightless - kiwi - moa - ostrich - rhea - struthious - tinamou - wing

Forum discussions with the word(s) "ratite" in the title:


Look up "ratite" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "ratite" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.