Definition

Noun 1. A large, powerful, herbivorous mammal: A rhinoceros; specifically, a massive, thick-skinned, odd-toed ungulate (perissodactyl) native to Southeast Asia and Africa, characterized by one or two horns on its snout. 2. (Slang, archaic) Money, cash.

Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The black rhino is a critically endangered species.
  • Poachers hunt rhinos for their valuable horns.
  • We saw a mother rhino and her calf at the wildlife reserve.
• Noun (Slang):
  • (Archaic) He's always short of rhino at the end of the month.

Advanced Usage

• "Rhino horn": Refers specifically to the keratinous horn(s) of the animal, which is the primary target of illegal poaching.
  • The illegal trade in rhino horn is devastating populations.
• Used attributively (as a noun modifier) to describe things related to rhinoceroses.
  • Rhino conservation efforts are increasing globally.

Variants and Related Words

• Rhinoceros (n.): The full, formal name for the animal. "Rhino" is the common shortened form.
  • The white rhinoceros is the largest species.
• Rhinocerotic (adj.): Pertaining to or resembling a rhinoceros (rarely used).
• Rhinoplasty (n.): A surgical procedure on the nose (from Greek , "nose"). This is a related word by etymology (root meaning nose) but refers to human surgery.

Synonyms

• (For the animal): Rhinoceros.
• (For the slang): Cash, dough, money, funds (all informal).

Related Phrases

• Thick as a rhino's skin: (Idiomatic) To be very insensitive to criticism or insult.
  • You need to be thick as a rhino's skin to work in politics.
• Charge like a rhino: To move forward with great force and determination, often recklessly.
  • He lost his temper and charged like a rhino into the argument.

Notes

The slang term for money ("ready rhino") is now considered archaic and is rarely used in modern English. The primary and almost exclusive contemporary meaning refers to the animal. The plural can be either rhinos or, less commonly, rhino (as a collective plural, similar to "deer").

Noun

1. massive powerful herbivorous odd-toed ungulate of southeast Asia and Africa having very thick skin and one or two horns on the snout