cariama

noun

car·​i·​ama
ˌkarēˈamə
1
capitalized : a genus of long-legged South American birds (order Gruiformes) having as sole recent representative the Brazilian cariama
2
plural -s : a bird (Cariama cristata) of southern Brazil or a closely related bird (Chunga burmeisteri) of northern Argentina, both being large long-legged birds with short wings and limited powers of flight that feed on berries, insects, and to some extent snakes and lizards and that are usually regarded as related to the cranes and bustards though formerly sometimes included with the birds of prey

called also seriema

see chunga, crested cariama

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Portuguese, seriema, modification of Tupi çariama

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near cariama

Cite this Entry

“Cariama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cariama. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!