English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

rhinoceros

reye-NOS-uh-ruhs

Rhinoceros (noun) means a large, thick-skinned plant-eating mammal from Africa or Asia with one or two horns on its snout. Example: “The black rhinoceros is critically endangered due to poaching.”

noun
1
A large, thick-skinned plant-eating mammal from Africa or Asia with one or two horns on its snout.
"The black rhinoceros is critically endangered due to poaching."

How to use rhinoceros

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA large horned mammal found in parts of Africa and Asia.

Common pairings
rhinoceros horn black rhinoceros white rhinoceros

Word forms

rhinoceros plural, rhinoceroses plural, rhinocerosses plural, rhinoceri plural, rhinoceroi plural, rhinocerotes plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rhinoceros” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The black _____ is critically endangered due to poaching.

Etymology

From Greek rhinokeros, literally "nose-horn," from rhis ("nose") plus keras ("horn").

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for rhinoceros

See all rhymes for rhinoceros →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rhinoceros” mean?

The word “rhinoceros” means a large, thick-skinned plant-eating mammal from Africa or Asia with one or two horns on its snout. In plain terms, a large horned mammal found in parts of Africa and Asia.

How do you pronounce “rhinoceros”?

“Rhinoceros” is pronounced reye-NOS-uh-ruhs (/ɹaɪˈnɑ.sə.ɹəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “rhinoceros” in a sentence?

Here is “rhinoceros” used in a sentence: “The black rhinoceros is critically endangered due to poaching.”

What part of speech is “rhinoceros”?

“Rhinoceros” is a noun.

Where does the word “rhinoceros” come from?

The word “rhinoceros” comes from Greek. From Greek rhinokeros, literally "nose-horn," from rhis ("nose") plus keras ("horn").

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial