ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rhea

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹiə// UK //ɹˈiː// rhea

n. a large, cold moon that orbits the planet Saturn. It is covered in ice and has many craters on its surface.

n. the second-largest moon of Saturn, composed primarily of water ice with a rocky core. It is a geologically inactive body characterized by a heavily cratered surface and a thin atmosphere of oxygen and carbon dioxide.


SIMPLE

Rhea is one of the many moons orbiting Saturn.

CONTEXTUAL

Images from the Cassini spacecraft revealed that Rhea has a very thin atmosphere, which was a surprising discovery for a moon of its size.

COMPLEX

As the second-largest satellite of Saturn, Rhea maintains a synchronous rotation, meaning the same face is always directed toward the gas giant as it completes its orbital path.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek Ῥέα (Rhéa).

Etymology 2

Variant of Rea.

Usage

When referring to the specific moon of Saturn, it is treated as a proper noun and capitalized.

© 2026 English Reference