moa
(redirected from Moas)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia.
mo·a
(mō′ə)n.
Any of various flightless ostrichlike birds of the family Dinornithidae that were native to New Zealand and became extinct, probably before 1500.
[Maori.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
moa
(ˈməʊə)n
(Animals) any large flightless bird of the recently extinct order Dinornithiformes of New Zealand. See ratite
[C19: from Māori]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mo•a
(ˈmoʊ ə)n., pl. mo•as.
any of various flightless birds of the order Dinornithiformes, of New Zealand, some of which resembled the ostrich in size and appearance: extinct since c1800.
[1810–20; < Maori]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
mo·a
(mō′ə) Any of various flightless, wingless, ostrich-like birds of New Zealand that have been extinct for over a century. One species grew to 13 feet (4 meters) in height, making it the largest bird of modern times.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() flightless bird, ratite, ratite bird - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds Dinornithidae, family Dinornithidae - moas Dinornis giganteus, giant moa - the largest moa; about 12 feet high anomalopteryx, Anomalopteryx oweni - the smallest moa; slender moa about the size of a large turkey |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.