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Glite Dictionary
ratite bird

ratite bird

9.0
A large flightless bird like an ostrich or emu with a flat breastbone
  • noun
  • /ˈræt.aɪt bɜrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ave ratita
  • Ostriches are the fastest running ratite birds and can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

Examples

  • The emu, a large ratite bird, is known for its long legs and inability to fly.

  • The kiwi, a unique ratite bird native to New Zealand, is known for its small size and nocturnal habits.

  • Emu is a type of huge, flightless ratite bird residing in Australia with nowhere else to go.

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Synonyms

flightless bird
vsratite bird
2 3.7

A bird that cannot fly, for example an ostrich or kiwi

is narrower referring specifically to a large group defined by flat breastbones
ratite
vsratite bird
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A large bird that cannot fly, for example an ostrich or emu

is the same meaning but written as a two-word phrase not a single word

Surface Forms

ratite bird singular
ratite birds plural

Morphology

ratite + bird

The meaning is fully compositional: 'ratite' denotes large, flightless birds and 'bird' denotes a feathered animal, so 'ratite bird' simply refers to a bird that is a ratite. Although somewhat redundant and technical (since 'ratite' already implies 'bird'), the overall sense is directly derivable from the constituent meanings, making it transparent to learners who know both words.

Etymology

Ratite bird gets its name from a word meaning 'raft' because these birds have a very flat breastbone that looks like a little raft instead of the high ridge used for flight. So, the name helps explain why ratite birds 'cannot fly' and are large, flightless birds.