aperea

noun

ape·​rea

ˌäˌperēˈä

variants or perea

ˌperēˈä

plural -s

: a wild cavy (Cavia porcellus) possibly ancestral to the domesticated guinea pig

Word History

Etymology

Spanish & Portuguese apereá, aperea, from Tupi apereá

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!